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JOURNAL 


Life, Travels  and  Gospel  Labors 


THOMAS  ARNETT. 


CHICAGO: 

PUBLISHING    ASSOCIATION    OE    FRIENDS, 
1884. 


PRINTED    BY 

CowDREY,  Clark  &  Co., 

CHICAGO. 


PUBLISHER'S  Preface 


The  following  Journal  of  the  Life  and  Labors  of  Thomas  Arnett 
was  left  by  him  at  his  death  with  instructions  for  its  publication  and 
with  i)rovision  for  the  same.  It  was  placed  in  our  hands  for  the 
press,  and  we  have  sought  faithfully  to  follow  these  instructions. 
It  was  his  desire  that  it  should  appear  without  division  into  chaj)- 
ters,  leaving  only  the  dates  at  the  head  of  the  pages  to  guide  the 
reader  as  to  the  course  of  the  narrative. 

Many  of  the  proper  names  were  so  indistinctly  written  that  it 
was  difficult  to  interpret  them,  and  certainty  of  accuracy  could  not, 
in  some  instances,  be  assured  without  much  labor  in  correspondence, 
which  we  could  not  perform  without  much  delay.  We  hope,  how- 
ever, the  volume  is  measurably  free  from  mistakes.  We  hope  the 
book  will  be  read  with  interest  by  the  surviving  friends  of  Thomas 

Arnett. 

Publishing  Association  of  Friends. 


TESTIMONY   CONCERNING    THOMAS    ARNETT.     FROM 

HIS   WIFE. 

It  mil}-  be  truly  said,  my  dear  husband  was  "diligent  in  busi- 
ness, fervent  in  spirit,  serving  the  Lordl;"  and  though  especially 
bound  to  the  Society  of  his  choice,  his  heart  being  enlarged  by 
Divine  Grace  went  out  in  love  and  sympathy  to  the  whole  human 
family,  particularly  to  the  household  of  faith  under  whatever  name 
these  might  be  found.  He  was  faithful  in  the  attendance  ^f  relig- 
ious meetings,  and  when  no  longer  able  to  do  so,  spent  his  time 
much  in  reading  the  Scriptures,  in  meditation  and  prayer.  He  had 
been  eminently  gifted  for  family  visiting,  to  the  truth  of  which 
many  could  testify  ;  and  his  life  and  conversation  corresponded  with 
his  i^rofession,  so  that  he  being  dead,  yet  speaketh. 

His  last  illness  was  j)rotracted,  and  at  times  he  suffered  much, 
but  would  remark  that  his  sufferings  were  light  when  compared 
with  what  his  Saviour  had  suffered  for  him,  with  many  similar  ex- 
pressions, setting  forth  his  own  feeling  of  unworthiness  and  his 
implicit  faith  in  the  atoning  blood  of  Jesus  Christ. 

His  mind  and  memory  were  remarkably  bright  to  the  last.  He 
enjoyed  the  company  of  his  friends,  who  loved  to  come  and  see  him, 
and  were  truly  kind  in  tendering  their  services.  The  day  and  night 
previous  to  his  close  he  appeared  to  suffer  little,  but  confidingly 
leaning  his  head  on  Jesus'  breast,  gently  breathed  his  life  out 
sweetly  there  on  the  26th  of  11th  month,  1877,  aged  8G  years,  4 
months  and  2(i  days.  Though  I  much  miss  his  company  and  coun- 
sel, yet  I  could  not  wish  him  back,  knowing  that  he  has  gone  to  be 
forever  with  the  Lord.'  Hannah  Arnett. 


JOU  RNAL 

OF   THE- 

LIFE.TRMELS  MD  GOSPEL  LIBORS 

OF 

THOMAS  ARNETT. 


I  feel,  and  often  liave  felt,  ti  desire  renewed  in  my  mind  to  keep 
a  journal  of  my  life  and  travels,  believing  the  Lord  requires  me  to 
pen  some  account  of  his  gracious  dealings  with  my  soul,  whde 
traveling  through  time  to  the  awful  confines  of  eternity.  He  has 
hitherto  led  me  through  many  and  various  afflicting  and  conllictnig 
baptisms,  as  well  as  through  some  very  comfortable  enjoyments  ; 
giving  me  a  large  portion  of  afflictions,  and  bearing  up  my  mind 
through  them  ;  teaching  me  the  necessity,  the  indispensable  neces- 
sity, of  abiding  with  ])atience  and  fortitude  his  dispensations  ;  filling 
my  soul  at  times  with  unspeakable  joy,  and  at  others  ])roving  me 
with  some  very  deep  and  j^erhajts  somewhat  unusual  probations. 
His  providence  has  been  with  me  from  my  youth,  in  llim  I  trust, 
and  to  Him  belongs  all  i)raise  now  and  forever. 

I  was  born,  according  to  the  best  account  I  could  obtain,  on  tlie^ 
30tli  day  of  the  Gth  month,  17!)1,  in  the  County  of  Guilford  and 
State  of  North  Carolina.     My  parents' names  were  Valentine  andy 
Sarah  Arnett,  who  moved  to  tlie  County  of  Stokes,  a  county  join-/ 
ing  and  lying  west  of  Guilford,  when  I  Avas   about  two  or  thrjiel 
years  of  age,  where  I  was  brought  up.     I  can  say  but  little  about 
my  fjither,  for  he  went  a  journey  to  the  North  when  I  was  about 
eight  or  nine  years  old,  where  he  died,  many  miles  from  home ;  so 
I  never  saw  him  afterwards.     My  mother  was  left  in  very  limited 
circumstances,  with  ten  children — one  daughter  and  nine  sons.    She 
was  a  pious  woman,  having  joined  herself  in  connection  with  the 
Methodist  Society  before  I  was  born,  and  continued  a  member  witli 


•)  JOURNAL    OI"    •niO-MAS    AliXKTT.  1791 

them  us  long  as  she  lived.  She  endeavored  to  train  us  up  to  piety 
and  virtue  as  much  as  she  could  ;  but  her  circumstances  were  so 
limited  that  she  thought  it  best  to  hire  us  out  for  her's  and  our 
sui)i»()rt,  not  being  able  to  keep  us  together  ;  so  that  we  were  much 
from  under  her  control,  and  also  much  exposed  to  the  vain  customs 
of  the  world. 

/-^  was  the  seventh  son,  and  was  soon  old.  enough  to  be  hired  out 
vfor  my  own  and  her  su])port.)  I  Avas  much  exposed  to  the  vain  cus- 
toms "of  the  w'orld,  having  .fe6  live  with  many  sorts  of  people,  many 
of  whom  were  vain  and  wicked,  by  whom  I  was  often  led  into  bad 
company ;  but  the  Lord  was  mindful  of  me,  and  often  impressed 
mv  mind  with  desires  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come.  Serious 
thoughts  resi)ecting  death,  eternity  and  time  often  came  upon 
me.  I  often  had  desires  to  lead  a  new  life  when  I  was  very  young : 
1  had  many  calls  and  visitations  from  him  whose  providence  and 
mercies  are  over  all  his  works. 

I  had  a  very  renuirkable  and  solemn  dream  when  I  was  young, 
which  sealed  a  lasting  impression  upon  my  mind.  It  was  a  solemn 
warning,  I  believe,  from  heaven,  to  show  me  the  necessity  of  pre- 
l)aring  betimes  for  death.     It  was  as  follows  : 

I  dreamed  that  I  was  called  from  this  world  to  stand  before  the 
l)ar  of  unbiassed  justice,  to  give  account  of  the  deeds  done  in  the 
body.  I  thought  I  was  not  prepared  for  this  awful  time.  I  thought 
I  j-etrospected  my  past  walks  with  i-emorse,  and  Avhen  I  looked  for- 
ward despair  took  hold  of  me.  I  thought  everlasting  pain  and 
misery  would  inevitably  be  my  portion.  I  thought  I  was  in  the 
<leepest  agony  and  distress  ;  my  situation  seemed  deplorable  ;  it  was 
indescril)ably  painful.  I  thought  I  saw  the  Divine  Being  viewing 
me  Avith  wrath  and  indignation,  because  I  had  spent  my  time  in 
vanity  and  sin.  I  thought  I  saw  others  standing  ready  to  hear 
their  final  destiny,  some  of  whom  appeared  to  be  happy  and  some 
miserable.  It  appeared  to  me  if  I  had  been  in  possession  of  ten 
thousand  perishing  worlds  I  could  have  freely  parted  with  them 
for  endless  fruition  in  the  heavens.  My  cry  seemed  to  be  :  "  If  J 
only  had  my  time  to  live  over  again,  I  would  not  spend  it  as  I  had 
done."  All  that  I  desired  was  opportunity  to  ])re23are  for  heaven. 
I  at  length  awoke  and  found  it  was  a  dream,  the  remembrance  of 
which  clothed  my  mind  with  seriousness  for  many  days.  I  at  length, 
however,  became  vain  and  forgetful,  and  received  the  following- 
remarkable  visitation  :  A  traveling  minister,  in  connection  Avith 
the  Methodist  Society,  appointed  a  meeting  in  the  vicinity  Avhere  I 
lived,  lie  was  a  stranger  in  these  parts — a  man  whom  I  never  saAV 
till  I  saw  him  at  this  meeting,  for  I  attended  it:  and  in  his  dis- 
course he  si)oke  of  some  Avho  Avere  in  this  meetiiig  who  had  been 
called  by  judgments  and  by  dreams,  and  I  have  no  doubt  but  there 
Avere  several  within  tlie  audience  of  his  own  voice  who  had  thus 
lieeii  called.     After  addressing  the  assembly  awhile  in  a  very  solemn 


1812  .TOIHXA!.    ()!••    'liloMAS    A  I."  N  iri'T.  3 

mainior,  ho  looked  at  me  witli  a  very  [)eiietratiiig  countenance,  and 
told  nic  I  had  been  solemnly  called  hy  a  dream,  and  related  to  me 
the  above  described  dream  with  more  accuracy  than  I  could  have 
related  it  myself  :  and  after  he  had  related  it  to  me  he  thus  ad- 
dressed me:  "And  thy  conscience  is  now  telling  thee  of  it."  So 
the  meeting  closed.  It  was  a  solemn  time  with  many.  I  had  re- 
vealed this  dream  to  none,  and  a  query  arose  in  my  mind  how  this 
man,  who  was  a  stranger  to  me,  could  tell  me  of  this  dream.  I 
was  soon  constrained,  however,  to  acknowledge  that  it  was  only  by 
divine  revelation  that  he  was  enabled  to  tell  it  to  me. 

The  remembrance  of  the  remarkable  visitation  which  I  received 
at  this  meeting  seriousl}^  clothed  my  mind  for  many  years,  and 
often  renewed  desires  in  me  to  seek  the  salvation  of  my  soul ;  but 
I  being  young  and  much  exposed  to  the  vain  customs  of  the  world, 
I  ;it  length  became  forgetful,  and  these  desires  measurably  left  me ; 
and  I  went  on  procrastinating  the  improvement  of  my  mind  for 
some  years,  loving  vanity  more  than  virtue,  delighting  in  the  pleas- 
nres  of  this  vvorld  more  than  in  the  path  of  moral  rectitude  ;  pre- 
ferring the  companies  of  the  mirthful  to  those  of  gravity  and  piety. 
I  fre(juented  ])laces  for  diversion,  and  was  led  by  bad  company  to 
do  many  evil  things.  I  spent  my  time  as  though  I  had  never  been 
called  •  choosing  darkness  rather  than  light,  because  my  deeds  were 
evi]/^I  thus  i)rocrastinated  the  improvement  of  my  mind  till  I  ar- 
i-ived  at  the  twentieth  year  of  my  age,  when  I  began  to  reflect 
seriously  u])on  my  misspent  time,  and  I  felt  sensible  conviction  for 
my  sins  and  folly  ;  having  lived  to  this  age  in  ignorance  and  vanit}^ 
my  education  having  been  neglected,  for  I  could  neither  read  nor 
write  at  this  age,  my  mother  m^t  being  able  to  send  me  to  school, 
and  I  having  been  hired  to  many  peo])le,  for  whom  I  worked  very 
hard  and  diligently  on  tlieir  farms,  and  in  whose  service  I  found 
but  little  respite,  therefore  my  opportunity  for  improvement  was 
very  limited.  I  now  became  renewedly  desirous  to  attain  a  portion 
of  school  learning,  feeling  sensible  of  tlie  loss  I  should  sustain  with- 
out it.  I  therefore,  with  the  jjermission  of  my  mother,  went  to 
school  about  this  time,  at  my  own  expense,  till  1  could  read  and 
write ;  and  not  being  able  to  continue  at  school  any  longer  (for  I 
had  nothing  of  this  world  exce})t  a  few  clothes,  my  mother  having 
received  most  of  my  wages),  I  resumed  my  former  occupation,  that 
of  hard  labor  on  the  farms  of  those  to  whom  I  was  hired.  I  now 
began  to  take  some  delight  in  reading  and  reflection,  and  spent 
most  of  my  leisure  hours  in  perusing  religious  books.  I  also  led  a 
more  thoughtful  life  than  I  formerly  had  done,  though  I  was  still 
addicted  to  many  thjngs  which  met  the  disaj)probation  of  divine 
wisdonij/' 

In  tile  twenty-first  year  of  my  age  the  Ijord  renewed  his  visita- 
tions with  my  soul.  He  brought  to  my  remembrance  the  monitions 
of  his  divine  love  with  my  soul  when  I  was  a  child,  and  showed  me 


4  .lorHXAL    OF    THOMAS    AKXETT.  181S 

that  I  had  very  inucli  departed  from  the  path  of  rectitude.  I  con- 
ceived myself  to  be  very  sinful  and  wicked ;  I  very  much  regretted 
my  misspent  time,  and  it  grieved  me  much  because  I  had  sligbted 
the  visitation  of  divine  love.  I  often  experienced  the  melting 
•power  of  Christ  Jesus  inwardly  revealed,  convicting  me  of  my  sins 
and  transgressions,  and  pointing  out  to  me  the  way  of  regeneration. 
Much  concern  at  times  came  upon  me  to  lead  a  new  life,  and  I  often 
felt  deep  distress  on  account  of  my  past  disobedience.  I  was  fre- 
quently met  in  solitary  places  with  deep  compunction  of  soul.  I 
paused,  I  reflected,  my  tears  flowed,  my  spirit  bowed  in  awful  rever- 
ence, and  I  often  stood  still  and  wept  bitterly.  When  I  first  expe- 
riem^ed  such  seasons  as  these  (for  I  experienced  a  measure  of  them 
when  I  was  very  young)  I  scarcely  knew  the  cause  of  them  ;  but  I 
now  know  from  ceitain  experience  that  it  was  the  power,  the  in- 
vincible power  of  the  eternal  God  which  met  me  and  warned  my 
soul  to  flee  from  sin  as  from  a  land  devoted  to  destruction,  and 
seek  the  Avay  which  leads  to  endless  fruition.  Dear  reader,  when- 
ever thou  feelest  thy  spirit  broken  Avith  com})unction,  stand  still 
and  abide  the  operation  of  divine  love  ;  distrust  not  the  inworking 
of  divine  goodness,  but  believe  in  it  and  heed  its  motions,  and  it 
will  lead  thee  to  the  well-sprinf/  of  eternal  life. 

I  now  feeling  much  concerned  to  lead  a  new  life,  would  often 
promise  that,  after  going  a  certain  length  in  sin  and  sensuality,  I 
would  reform  and  heed  the  monitions  of  divine  wisdom  ;  but  this 
afforded  me  no  peace.  The  following  language  often  saluted  the 
ear  of  my  spirit:  "To-day  is  the  day  of  salvation,  and  now  is  the 
acceptable  time  ;  harden  not  thy  heart  as  in  the  provocation,  in  the 
day  of  temptation  in  the  wildeimess,  but  accept  the  offers  of  mercy 
and  walk  in  the  newness  of  life."  I  saw  many  restless  hours,  both 
day  and  night,  on  account  of  my  disobedience  and  sins,  and  I  be- 
gan to  accustom  myself  to  serious  retirement,  finding  but  little 
satisfaction  in  company. 

I  had  a  very  remarkable  call  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come,  and 
to  repent  and  live,  in  the  twenty-second  year  of  my  age.  which  was  as 
follows  :  One  day  I  was  working  in  a  barn  by  myself,  in  a  serious 
frame  of  mind.  At  length  a  cloud  gathered  in  the  south,  the  ap- 
])earance  of  which  seemed  awful  to  me ;  it  raised  admiration  in  me. 
While  1  was  viewing  it  an  awful  thunder  rumbled  through  it,  the 
sound  of  which  solemnized  my  mind  and  brought  it  into  ])r()found 
stillness.  While  thus  composed,  the  following  language  was  intel- 
ligently spoken  in  the  ear  of  my  spirit,  witli  an  audible  voice — 
"Jie//ent!  Repent!  Ji'epent!  Oh,  repent!"  This  language  sunk  deej) 
in  the  ear  of  my  spirit,  and  sealed  there  a  lasting  and  solemn  im- 
pression. I  reverently  bowed  under  sensible  conviction  of  the  neces- 
sity of  repentance  unto  life.  ( )li,  how  I  desired  to  be  cleansed  from 
iniquity,  to  experience  the  new  birtli.  iiml  to  stand  approved  bcfore- 
tlie  Majesty  on  high. 


isD  jornxAL  OF  tiiomas  aijxktt.  5 

This  Avas,  1  believe,  a  solemn  call  from  heaven  to  me.  to  repent 
and  seek  the  salvation  of  my  son!.  'JMie  elond.  I  believe,  was  gath- 
•  ored  to  raise  gnitefnl  emotions  in  me  ;  the  thnnder  which  rnmbled 
throngh  it  was  to  solemnize  my  mind,  and  to  pre})are  it  to  hear  the 
inspeaking  word  of  the  Lord  ;  for  the  burning  busJi  which  Moses 
•snv.  I  believe  was  presented  to  him  to  draw  him  from  worldly  con- 
siderations, and  to  prepare  him  to  hear  the  voice  of  the  Most  High. 
It  raised  admiration  in  him.  and  induced  him  to  turn  aside  from 
the  avocation  of  life  to  view  it.  and  while  he  wtjs  viewing  it,  God 
spoke  to  him  and  said.  "Put  off  thy  shoes  from  off  thy  feet,  for 
the  place  whei'eon  thou  standest  is  holy  ground."  liy  this  divine 
command  we  are  to  understand  the  necessity  of  putting  oft'  tlu' 
cares,  concerns  and  considerations  of  this  world  when  we  approach 
the  Divine  Majesty;  for  where  the  Lord  presents  himself,  there  is 
holiness  ;  and  he  ever  prepares  the  mind  of  man  to  receive  his 
injunctions  and  instructions  l)efore  he  gives  them. 
P^/Jhi  this  year  I  began  again  to  go  to  school,  and  continued  at 
school  several  months,  having  by  my  own  industry  enabled  myself 
to  defray  the  expenses  thereof.  I  became  very  desirous  to  procure 
ji  pretty  good  portion  of  scliool  learning.  I  therefore  used  every  ex- 
ertion to  improve  in  literature,  but  I  too  much  neglected  the  re- 
finement of  my  S011T77'  I  became  forgetful  of  my  former  visitations, 
iind  began  to  deligTiT  in  the  way  that  leads  to  the  chamber  of  dark- 
ness and  despair.  I  frequented  places  for  diversion,  and  spent 
many  of  my  precious  hours  in  bad  company,  but  the  Lord  often  re- 
proved me  ;  a  measure  of  his  divine  light  often  came  upon  me,  and 
smote  me  with  deep  conviction,  and  oh  !  the  distress  which  I  felt 
on  account  of  my  disobedience.  My  spirit  bowed  ;  my  tears  flowed. 
AVhile  thus  influenced  I  would  often  resolve  to  forsake  the  vain 
customs  of  the  world,  and  lead  a  new  life  ;  but  these  resolutions 
being  formed  in  my  own  will  and  strength,  they  were  feeble,  and 
could  not  staiul  the  test  of  approaching  temptations.  They  were 
formed  in  time  of  com]>unction  and  broken  in  the  day  of  tempta- 
tion. I  frequently  spent  the  fore  part  of  nights  in  bad  company, 
gratifying  myself  with  sensuality  and  mirth,  and  the  latter  i)art  in 
tears  and  compunction,  often  feeling  such  weight  of  conscious 
guilt  that  I  could  neither  sleep  nor  find  any  rest.  I  frequently 
withdrew  into  some  solitary  place,  after  times  of  merriment,  and 
walked  t(»  and  fro,  or  sat  down,  and  wept  bitterly  till  near  the  dawn  ; 
and  when  day  came  I  Avonld  often  be  so  borne  down  under  grief 
and  conviction  that  I» could  take  but  little  delight  in  the  company 
of  my  fellow  students  at  school.  I  would  often  have  to  lay  aside 
my  studies,  and  withdraw  into  some  solitai'y  jflace,  to  give  vent  to 
the  grief  of  my  soul.  And  oh  I  the  sorrow  and  dee])  distress  which 
clotlied  me  in  these  seasons.  I  sometimes  walked  to  and  fro,  at 
others  sat  down  and  wrung  my  hands  ;  my  soul  seemed  to  be 
melted  with  grief,  my  tears  ])rofusely  flowed,  but  my  guilt  and  ex- 


G  .(OIKXAL    Ol'   THOMAS    ARXETT,  I8H 

ereises  were  not  mitigiited,  l)ut  rather  increased,  because  I  would 
not  yield  an  entire  surrender  to  the  yoke  and  cross  of  Christ.  J. 
however,  at  length  measurably  forsook  l)ad  company,  and  addicted 
myself  more  and  more  to  serious  retirement  and  reflection.  Thi;s 
my  exercises  and  trials  continued,  with  unremitting  abatement, 
while  at  school.  The  Lord  followed  me  up,  and  often  turned  my 
mirth  into  sorrow,  reproving  me  whenever  I  committed  evil,  and 
Avooing  my  soul  to  yield  an  entire  surrender  and  dedication  to  him, 

-""Til  the  twenty-third  year  of  my  age  I  taught  school  a  few  months 

'  myself,  in  the  vicinity  where  I  was  brought  up,  having  acquired  a 
pretty  good  portion  of  school  learning.     After  this  school  expired 

-  I  again  went  to  school  s(t\'eral  months  to  improve  my  own  educa- 
tion, being  resolved  to  attain  a  good  portion  of  literatui'c,  being 
sensible  of  its  value,  if  it  be  kept  under  the  control  and  guidance 
of  divine  wisdom,  and  being  also  sensible  of  the  loss  that  those 
sustain  who  travel  through  time  without  it.  It  is  a  worthy  ])ui-suit 
for  youth,  if  virtue  and  piety  keep  pace  with  it^ 

In  this  year  I  had  aiiother  call  l)y  a  di'eam,  which  was  as  folhnvs  : 
I  dreamed"^  that  I  was  walking  through  a  field  alone,  in  a  very  seri- 
ous frame  of  mind,  pondering  my  past  walks  ;  and  I  thought  I 
stopped  and  turiied  to  the  right,  and  paused.  AVhile  thus  standing, 
I  thought  that  Jesus  Christ  presented  himself  before  me,  and  with 
a  very  penetrating  countenance  thus  spoke  to  me,  "  Rej)cnt !  "  and 
then  vanished.  1  thought,  when  he  spoke,  my  heart  was  smitten 
with  an  awful  sense  of  the  approaching  danger,  if  I  slionld  con- 
tinue in  disobedience  and  transgression  until  death.  I  thought, 
after  pausing  aAvhile,  I  walked  along  till  I  came  to  a  house,  Avhere 
I  saw  a  very  pious  man,  one  with  Avhom  I  was  acquainted,  to  Avhom 
I  revealed  my  past  exercises  aiul  trials,  and  he  exhorted  me  to  sur- 
render to  the  monitions  of  divine  love  ;  and  Avhile  he  Avas  address- 
ing me  I  awoke.  This  dream  Avas  often  brought  to  my  remem- 
brance for  many  days,  impressing  my  mind  with  a  sense  of  the  ne- 

*  cessity  to  repent  and  labor  for  redemption  of  sins.  My  concern  to 
seek  the  salvation  of  my  soul  increased,  I  sought  peace,  but  I 
found  it  not.  My  distress  Avas  deep  ;  my  heart  often  broke  fortli 
Avith  the  folloAviiig  language,  "What  shall  I  do  to  be  saved?"' 
"How.  shall  I  be  relieved  from  this  deep  distress  ?  "  "Oh  !  that 
I  had  heeded  the  monitions  of  heaven  in  early  life,  and  stood  firm 
against  temptation ;"  and  wlien  I  thus  broke  forth,  this  ansAver  Avas 
spoken  in  tlie  ear  of  my  spirit,  "Take  up  thy  cross  daily,  make 
straight  the  Avay  of  the  Lord,  seek  for  rei)entance  unto  salvation, 
pray  Avithout  ceasing,  and  keep  thy  body  in  sul)jcction  and  thy  own 
Avill  in  subjugation,  and  walk  in  self-denial." 

One  day  as  I  Avas  going  from  meeting,  in  a  vei'y  serious  frame  of 
mind,  pondering  my  ])ast  exercises  and  trials,  the  following  lan- 
guage was  spoken  in  the  eai'  of  my  soul,  with  a  still,  small  voice, 
'•  If  thon  wilt  seels  the    F/oi-d.  and   serve   him    with  a  perfect  heart,. 


1S15  .i(»ii;\AL  oi'  THOMAS  Ai{Ni;rr.  , 

und  with  a  willing-  mind,  he  will  be  fonnd  of  thee,  and  yivc  tlice 
everything  neeessary  for  thee  to  enjoy  in  tiiis  Avorld.  and  in  the 
world  to  come  life  everlasting;  bnt  if  thon  forsake  him  he  will 
east  thee  oft'  forever."  I  was  renewedly  l)r()ken  in  mnch  tenderness 
and  contrition  ;  sincere  desires  were  renewed  in  me  to  ])ass  from 
death  nnto  life,  to  he  born  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  to  walk  in  new- 
ness of  life.  While  I  continued  in  sin  and  transgression  the  divine 
hand  Avas  against  me.  and  it  would  have  been  against  me  all  my  life 
long  had-T  continued  in  disobedience,  and  after  death  it  would  have 
cast  me  oft'  forever;  but  since  I  yielded  i)erfect  obedience  to  the 
Avill  of  heaven  it  has  been  with  me,  and  has  bestowed  on  nu'  many 
blessings  and  comforts. 

In  the  twenty-fourth  year  of  my  age  I  again  became  rather  foi'- 
getful.  and  began  to  procrastinate  the  improvement  of  my  mind, 
and  was  aroused  by  the  following  remarkable  warning  :  One  even- 
ing I  went  to  meeting  (among  the  ^Methodists),  and  after  meeting 
got  into  bad  company,  by  whom  I  Avas  persuaded  to  accompany  tiiem 
to  a  frolic  not  far  distant  (this  was  the  last  frolic  I  ever  attended). 
Soon  after  I  got  there  I  was  smitten  with  deep  conviction,  my  pleas- 
ure was  turned  into  sorrow.  I  felt  sensible  that  the  Lord's  wrath 
wai^kindled  against  me  ;  I  felt  condemned  and  distressed.  Oh  I  the 
grief  which  came  upon  me  on  account  of  my  sins  and  transgressions  ; 
the  weight  of  guilt  which  I  felt  bore  me  down  under  deep  compunc- 
tion, i  soon  Avithdrew  into  the  solitary  woods.  Avhere  I  Avept  bitter- 
ly. I  sat  down  and  wrung  my  hands  ;  the  power,  the  invincible 
])ower  of  the  cA'crlasting  (lod  was  upon  me,  and  it  smote  me.  as  it 
were,  to  the  ground,  for  my  sins  and  disobedience.  My  tears  at 
length  flowed  freely,  and  gave  some  vent  to  my  grief.  This  was 
an  awful  night  Avith  me.  Towards  day  I  Avent  home.  and.  being- 
weary.  I  Avent  to  bed.  and  soon  fell  into  a  sound  sleeji.  and  had  the 
following  dream  :  T  thought  I  attended  a  place  for  diversion,  and 
Avas  soon  so  convicted  that  my  mirtli  was  turnetl  into  sorrow.  I 
thought  I  soon  left  the  place  with  grief  and  started  homeward  ;  and 
as  I  Avas  Avalking  along  aloiu\  in  an  awful  frame  of  mind.  Avith  a 
fence  on  my  right  and  a  large  portion  of  Avoods  on  my  left,  I  looked 
forAvard  and  saw  tAvo  men  riding  abreast  towards  me.  They  Avere 
riding  Avliite  horses,  and  eAcry  part  of  their  dress  Avas  also  Avhite  ; 
their  countenances  Avere  as  pale  as  death  ;  in  line,  their  apjiearance 
Avas  indescribably  aAvful.  Tiiey  approached  near  me  and  rode  around 
me.  looking  at  me  with  the  keenest  penetration.  Their  appearance 
struck  me  with  dread  and  solemnity.  I  used  every  exertion  to  flee 
from  them,  but  could  not.  T  turned  to  the  left,  into  a  thicket  of 
Avoods,  thinking  they  could  not  ride  there,  and  by  that  means  escape 
them;  but  there  Avas  nothing  there  which  obstructed  their  riding. 
T  next  turned  to  the  right,  and  got  upon  the  fence,  supposing  they 
could  not  ride  through  it ;  but  it  Avas  no  obstruction  to  them  ;  they 
passed  through  it  as  though  they  had  been  some  vapoi'ish  substance. 


8  .lUUKN'AL    Ul'    THOMAS    AUXKTT.  1S15 

I-'iiulinii;  J  could  not  flee  from  them,  I  walked  along  some  distance, 
till  I  ('ame  to  a  bush,  where  I  stopped.  After  pausing  awhile  I 
climbed  it.  as  the  only  means  I  could  think  of  to  get  away  from 
them.  \\'hen  I  arrived  at  the  top  of  it.  they  looked  at  me  with 
renewed  wishfulness  and  penetration,  and  then  vanished. 

This  dream  awfully  impressed  my  mind  for  many  days,  manifest- 
ing to  me  the  necessity,  the  indispensable  necessity,  of  turning  from 
darkness  to  light  in  the  day  of  my  heavenly  visitation  ;  showing 
also  to  me  the  danger,  the  awful  danger,  of  trying  to  flee  from  the 
reproof  of  instruction.  It  brought  afresh  to  my  remembrance  the 
Lord's  gracious  dealings  with  my  soul  from  early  youth  ;  that  he 
liad  followed  me  up  from  place  to  place  and  from  time  to  time, 
^\'ooing  me  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come,  and  to  seek  the  salvation 
of  my  soul — 0,  Avondrous  mercy  I — and  I  had  been  procrastinating 
the  improvement  of  my  time.  It  also  bronght  afresh  to  my  remem- 
l)rance  tliat  it  was  stated  in  the  scriptures  of  Truth,  "My  spirit 
shall  not  always  strive  with  man  ;"  and  a  fear  awfully  pervaded  my 
mind  that  this  good  spirit  would  take  its  flight  from  me,  and  leave 
me  in  darkness  and  despair  forever,  if  I  should  continue  to  grieve 
it  from  day  to  day,  and  slight  its  tender  invitations  and  monitions 
as  I  long  iuid  done.  The  remembrmice  of  the  sufferings  of  Jesus 
Christ,  the  beloved  of  souls,  came  npon  me,  that  he  suffered  many 
things  for  the  sons  and  daughters  of  men  while  he  was  in  the  pre- 
])ared  l)ody.  and  that  he  tasted  death  for  every  man  ;  and  therefore 
lie  had  suffered  for  me,  and  tasted  death  for  me.  These  considera- 
tions raised  in  me  a  strong  desire  to  walk  in  the  path  of  regenera- 
tion, and  to  become  redeemed  by  the  blood  of  Christ  from  the 
pollutions  of  sin  and  iniquity.  I  often  felt  a  perfect  willingness  to 
be  something  or  nothing  for  Christ's  sake  ;  but  the  devil,  who  is 
going  to  aiid  fro  in  the  earth  (in  the  earthly  inclined  part  of  man), 
and  walking  up  and  down  in  it,  militated  against  me.  and  often 
brought  these  good  desires  to  naught, — I  being  often,  very  often, 
forgetful  and  umnindful  of  the  goodness  and  providence  of  the 
great  Creator. 
•-^^^rii  this  year  I  taught  school  some  months  in  the  northern  ])art  of 
(iuilford  county,  among  the  Presbyterians,  having  learned  most  of 
the  branches  and  sciences  taught  in  common  country  schools.  I 
])ro;'ured  my  education  by  my  own  unwearied  industry  and  assidu- 
ity. I  know  my  op])ortunity  for  attaining  school  leartiing  was  very 
limited,  but  by  the  blessing  oT  Providence  I  was  enabled  to  make 
much  proficiency  therein.  1  have  known  some  young  men  and 
young  women  Avho  appeaivd  to  have  great  opportunity  for  attaining 
a  good  ])ortion  of  literature,  but  they  procrastinated  the  improve- 
ment of  their  time  till  the  flower  of  youth  Inid  ])assed  away,  and 
tln-u  lived  in  ignorance  and  ])ride  the  remainder  of  their  days.  I 
have  ku  )\v!i  others  who  ap])eared  to  have  but  very  limited  o])]K)r- 
t'liiity  i'o:-  i;ttaining  school  learning,  yet  they  gradually  advanci'd  in 


.lorUXAl.    ()!•    THOMAS    AKNKTT. 


tlK'  puth  of  Sfieiu'i"  and  useful  knowk'do-e,  patu'utly  ivuioviu-  ilic 
Minorities  that  obstructed  their  way;  by  tlieir  industry  and  assiduity 
tiiev  improved  their  minds  and  became  euabled  to  do  some  g-ood  in 
the  worhl.  and  wlien  the  flower  of  their  youth  liad  passed  avyay 
thev  retaiiuHl    tliat    sensibility   which    soothes   tlie  pious  and   the 


virtuons7\  ,,  ^.  ,.   t   ■      vr     ■ 

I  had  not  vet  fullv  given  up  to  the  motions  of  divine  liie  in  in\ 
^oul       I   spent  much  time  in  reasoning  and  hesitating  whether  i 
"had  'best  give  up  Avith  full  purpose  of  heart  to  lead  a  noAV  life.     A 
fear  pervaded  me  if  I  should  resolve  to  lead  a  religions  life  1  should 
not  perform   having  so  often  resolved  and  so  often  so  lightly  broken 
such  resolutions  that  I  was  ready  to  think  that  it  was  useless  to  try 
any  further  to  lead  a  new  life.     At  length,  however,  I  gave  up   and 
once  more  entered  into  solemn  covenant  to  serve  (lod  and  walk  in 
^elf-denial  •  and  almost  as  soon  as  I  had  formed  this  good  resolution 
the  grand  adversary  presented  me  with  the  doctrine  of  predestina- 
tion  powerfully  insinuating  that  a  certain  number  were  infallibly 
ordained  to  eternal  life  and  the  rest  to  inevitalde  destruction    and 
that  not  all  mv  religious  exertions  could  possibly  inake  any  altera- 
tion in  my  final  destiny.     This  doctrine  blundered  and  distressed 
my  mind  very  much  for  many  days.    I  at  times  measurably  embraced 
it"^  and  was  ready  to  flatter' myself  that  I  was  a  chosen  vessel,  and 
^h'ould  tinallv  be  crowned  with  peac«  and  glory,  let  me  lead  ever  so 
l)ad  a  life  ;  but  the  Lord  reproved  me  in  time  of  serious  thought, 
•md  bid  me  flee  from  such  erroneous  persuasion,  for  it  proceeded 
irom  tlie  prince  of  darkness,  and  it  would  lead  me  to  utter  ruin  it 
I  departed  from  genuine  principles  and  embraced  and  cherished  it 
in  mv  heart  during  life.     After  I  became  pretty  well  reconciled 
re-;pe"ctino-  the  erroneousness  of  this  doctrine,  the  devil  presented 
me  with  despair,  powerfully  persuading  me  that  I  was  lost  and  un- 
done forever,  that  nothing' that  I  could  do  could  redeem  me,  that 
the  Lord  had  taken  his  flight  from  me  forever  on  account  ot  my 
past  sins  and  disobedience  ;  and  oh  !  the  trouble  which  this  often 
renewed  in  mv  mind  for  many  days.     I  truly  lamented  my  case,  and 
was  ready  at  times  to  wish  that  I  had  never  been  brought  into  ex- 
istence, or  had  died  in  my  infancy,  so  as  to  have  been  saved  through 
the  meritorious  suffering   and   righteousness  of   Christ ;    but  the 
Lord    who  is  full  of  mercy  and  goodness,  wonderfully  confuted  the 
enemy  and  imt  to  naught  all  his  insinuations,  evincing  to  me  that 
all  who  seek  him  ariglit  shall  find  him,  and  that  he  willeth  not  the 
death  of  a  sinner,  but  willeth  that  all  may  look  unto  him  and  be 
saved  with  an  everlasting  salvation.     The  unwearied  adversary,  not 
beino-  willing  to  let  me  alone,  but  seeking  from  day  to  day  to  ob- 
struct my  religious  growth,  again  i)resented  me  with  the  doctrine 
<,f  uuconilitional  election  and  reprobation,  and  stirred  up  the  minds 
of  the  peoiile  of  the  vicinity  where  1  taught  school  to  hold  contro- 
versy with  me  on  this  subject.      [They  were  Presbyterians,  as  before 


10      ^  JOritXAL    OF    THOMAS    AltXKTT.  1815 

ol)servo(l.  many  of  wlioni  were  groinuled  in  tlie  doctrine  of  predes- 
tiiuitioii.  J  They  used  every  exertion  in  their  power  to  convert  me 
to  their  l)elief.  often  presenting  me  Avith  the  writings  of  their  di- 
vines (so  called),  and  advancing  the  strongest  verbal  arguments  of 
whicli  tliey  were  possessed,  defying  me  to  confute  them.  This  was 
truly  trying  to  me.  I,  liowever,  defended  the  cause  of  truth  before 
them  as  well  as  I  could,  till  my  heart  seemed  ready  to  burst  with 
grief  and  distress,  the  enemy  Avorking  in  me  trying  to  ruin  me  for- 
ever. I  would  then  Avithdraw  into  some  solitary  place,  and  giA'e 
vent  to  my  sorrow  l)y  pouring  out  my  soul  in  prayer  and  supplica- 
tion before  the  Lord.  I  cried  for  mercy  and  redemption,  but  my 
soul  appeared  to  be  wrapt  up  in  hardness  and  unbelief  :  my  under- 
standing Avas  clouded  Avith  darkness  ;  the  heaven  above  me  became 
as  brass,  and  the  earth  beneath  me  as  iron  :  the  very  elements 
seemed  to  militate  against  me  ;  the  distress  of  my  soul  Avas  truly 
indescribable.  Thus  my  probation  continued  for  many  days.  I 
saw  no  peace  neither  day  nor  night.  I  had  no  one  in  this  world  to 
symi)athize  Avith  me.  My  case  Avas  hid  from  the  wise  and  prudent. 
I  had  revealed  my  religious  exercises  to  no  person  on  earth,  having 
felt  no  freedom  to  reveal  them  to  man  ;  for  I  kncAv  that  man  Avas  a 
weak  and  fallible  creature,  a  creature  Avho  could  administer  me  no 
help  in  liis  own  strength  and  Avill.  I  kncAV  thev  were  knoAvn  to 
liim  witli  Avliom  tliere  is  everlasting  strength,  and  I  often  enter- 
tained a  liope  tliat  he  would  deliver  me  from  the  poAA'er  of  the  enemy 
in  his  own  will  and  time  if  I  sliould  cleave  to  him  Avith  the  Avhole 
heart  always.  lie  at  length  again  repelled  tlie  enemy,  quenched 
all  his  fiery  darts,  dispelled  tlie  clouds  of  darkness,  and  established 
me  in  tlie  belief  that  the  doctrine  of  predestination  Avas  false,  and 
that  it  has  its  origin  in  darkness  and  not  in  light. 

I  know  of  no  doctrine  that  more  shockingly  reflects  on  the  char- 
acter of  the  Divine  Being  than  that  of  predestination  ;  it  makes 
him  a  respecter  of  persons,  and  those  avIio  embrace  it  must  enter- 
tain a  slender  idea  of  his  mercy,  loving  kindness  and  compassion. 
He  is  a  loving  and  tender  Father,  and  he  invites  all  to  come  and 
taste  and  sec  that  he  is  good  ;  a  broken  and  contrite  heart  he  Avill 
never  despise. 

In  these  days  I  had  tAvo  very  solemn  dreams  ;  the  tirst  was  as  fol- 
lows :  I  dreamed  that  I  was  riding  to  and  from  a  large  field  of  oats, 
upon  a  white,  flying  horse.  I  tliought  the  oats  had  pretty  Avell 
grown  up.  but  had  not  begun  to  ripen.  I  thought  the  horse  was 
enabled  to  convey  me  to  and  fro  over  the  oats  by  an  imperceptible 
power,  flying  in  the  air,  his  feet  just  touching  the  heads  of  the 
oats.  I  thought,  as  he  thus  conveyed  me,  I  was  viewing  the  oats 
with  uns])eakable  concern  in  my  heart.  1  thought  iny  spirit  Avas 
clothed  with  solemn  awe.  I  at  length  awoke.  This  dream  was  a 
convincing  evidence  to  me  that  I  Avould  some  day  have  to  declare 
the  glad  tidings  of  the  gospel  to  my  fellow  creatures,  if  I  should 
])rove  raithrul  to  the  drawings  of  diviiic  lovi'. 


1816  .lon^NAI,    OK    'I'llOMAS    AKXH'!"!'.  If 

The  st'coiul  Avtis  :  1  droiinied  that  I  was  called  to  preach  the  gos- 
pel ;  tlierefore  I  thought  I  a})])ointed  a  meeting.  When  the  i)eople 
gathered  1  thought  most  of  them  were  young  men  and  young  women. 
I  thought  we  went  into  a  house  and  sat  a  while  in  profound  silence. 
[  at  length  arose  in  testimony  with  these  A\'ords  :  "  JIow  shall  we 
escape  if  we  neglect  so  great  salvation  ?  "  After  sj^eaking  a  while 
I  sat  down  in  ])rofound  silence,  and  while  thus  composed  it  Mas 
spoken  in  the  ear  of  my  spirit  that  I  was  called  to  preach  the  gos- 
pel, but  had  begun  too  soon. 

This  dream  was  also  a  confirming  evidence  to  me  that  I  would 
some  day  be  called  to  preacli  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  to  the  sons 
and  daughters  of  men  if  1  should  yield  perfect  obedience  to  the 
will  of  heaven.  It  also  manifested  to  me  the  necessity,  the  indis- 
pensable necessity,  of  patiently  abiding  the  operation  of  the  Lord's 
refining  power,  till  all  the  dross  and  every  impure  thing  should  be 
purged  out  of  me,  and  I  made  a  new  creature,  before  I  could  min- 
ister the  divine  word  with  life  and  power  to  my  fellow  creatures  : 
and  this  word  I  must  minister,  not  in  my  own  will  and  time,  but 
in  the  Avill  and  time  of  him  who  by  his  own  power  and  might  fits 
and  sanctifies  vessels  for  use  in  his  house.  He  puts  down  the  mighty 
from  their  seats,  and  raises  them  of  low  degree  to  shine  in  the  church 
as  stars  of  the  first  magnitude.  He  calls  sons  and  daughters  from 
far,  and  refines  them  as  gold  is  refined  that  has  passed  several  times 
through  the  refiner's  fire,  and  he  fits  them  for  service  in  his  house. 
BJpssed  forever  be  his  name! 
,.-^  In  the  twenty-fifth  year  of  my  age  I  opened  a  school  in  the  A\'est- 
ernpartof  (ruilford  county,  where  I  taught  for  a  number  of  months. 
mostly  among  those  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 

The  Lord  in  these  days  often  renewed  his  tender  and  gracious 
invitations  with  my  soul,  often  making  me  sensible  of  my  awful 
aiul  dangerous  situation  Avithout  true  obedience  to  him.  I  truly 
began  to  see  my  lost  and  undone  condition  without  a  Savior  :  and 
while  in  retrospect  and  compunction  the  language  of  my  heart 
would  be,  "Without  a  Savior  I  perish;  Avithout  divine  protection 
utter  ruin  Avill  be  my  portion."  And  Avhile  thus  influeiu-ed,  desires 
Avere  raised  in  me  to  experience  the  effusions  of  the  redeeming  love 
of  Jesus  Christ,  and  to  ingratiate  myself  into  the  favor  of  heaven  ; 
but  trials  still  abounded  with  me.  I  sought  him  whom  my  soul 
loved  ;  I  sought  him,  but  I  found  him  ]iot.  I  often  pcnvred  out  my 
soul  in  prayer  and  supplication  before  him,  but  it  seemed  as  though 
my  cries  fell  to  the  ground  ;  my  heart  at  times  was  so  full  that  it 
seemed  almost  ready  to  burst  with  grief  ;  my  tears  at  length  would 
give  some  vent  to  the  deep  and  unspeakable  pain  and  distress  whicli 
clothed  me. 

A  desire  Avas  often  renewed  in  me  to  peruse  the  sci'i[)tures  of 
truth  and  become  conversant  with  them.  I  had  too  much  neg- 
lected the  reading  of  them,  not  feeling  that  interest  in  them  which 


!•)  ,I()LKN-AL    OK    THOMAS    AUNKTr.  ixlfi 

1  ought  to  have  felt;  but  now  I  began  to  feel  tlie  utmost  interest 
in  them,  and  took  great  delight  in  perusing  them.  I  read  a  por- 
tion of  them  every  day,  and  since  have  given  them  a  very  diligent 
perusal,  receiving  that  edification  and  instruction  from  them  whicli 
no  other  book  ccmtains.  The  Bible  is  certainly  the  l)est  book  in 
the  world  :  it  should  be  prized  as  an  inestimable  treasure.  It  is 
replete  with  the  best  of  instruction,  and  coutains  a  salutary  portion 
for  every  state  and  condition  among  the  sons  and  daughters  of  men. 
The  more  1  read  the  Holy  Scriptures  the  more  I  delight  in  them  ; 
thev  appear,  as  it  were,  to  be  new  every  time  I  i)eruse  them.  May 
the  Lord  make  them  a  blessing  to  the  the  nations  of  the  earth,  and 
may  all  who  have  it  in  their  power  to  read  them  l)ecome  well  acquaint- 
ed with  them  I 

One  evening,  as  I  was  sitting  in  a  Friend's  house  in  a  very  serious 
frame  of  mind,  retrospecting  my  past  walks,  and  while  I  Avas  mus- 
ing, I  thought  the  following  language  was  spoken  in  the  ear  of  my 
spirit  witli  a  still,  small  voice  :  "  Thou  hast  a  Friend  in  heaven  who 
Avill  befriend  thee  and  give  thee  a  crown  of  life  if  thou  be  faithful 
until  death.""  My  heart  was  full.  I  soon  withdrew  into  a  solitary 
place  and  poured  "out  my  soul  in  prayer  and  supplication  before  the 
everlasting  (Jod.  and  he  had  compassion  on  me  ;  he  turned  my  sor- 
row into  joy,  and  filled  my  soul  with  a  measure  of  that  love  which 
])ervades  the  minds  of  his  "devoted  disciples  and  which  is  the  source 
of  all  consolation.  My  joy  was  unspeakalde.  My  spirit  thankfully 
bowed  and  worshi})ed  him  who  liveth  forever  and  ever.  I  felt  as 
though  the  Lord  was  viewing  me  as  a  well-}deased  Father.  I  felt 
as  tliough  he  had  blotted  out  my  sins  and  iniquities  from  the  book 
of  his  remembrance.  This  evening  was  to  me  truly  a  happy  and 
heavenly  season. 

A  measure  of  this  pure  love  was  frequently  renewed  in  my  heart 
for  a  few  days  ;  but  it  soon  left  me,  and  doubts  and  darkness  came 
upon  me,  aiid  my  probations  were  very  deep  for  many  days.  I  was 
ahnost  ready  to  doubt  everything  respecting  the  terms  and  ways  of 
s;dvation,  too  much  forgetting  the  goodness  and  long  forbearance 
of  the  Lord,  and  giving"' way  too  much  to  the  reasoning  of  tlie  hu- 
man will  and  imagination.  "^I  called  all  my  past  religious  exercises 
in  question,  and  was  ready  to  believe  that  I  had  been  deceived  : 
that  the  Divine  Being  had  never  called  me.  that  all  my  serious  im- 
]iressions  liad  been  nothing  more  than  the  workings  of  tlie  human 
imagination.  A  mist  of  darkness  clouded  my  understanding.  1 
])ecame  an  object  of  deep  sorrow.  I  became  as  one  wandering  in 
darkness  without  a  ray  of  light  to  guide  him  in  the  right  way.  My 
distress  was  deej).  The  Lord  at  length  had  pity  on  me,  and  re- 
newed a  measure  of  his  divine  light  in  me,  and  showed  me  my  folly 
by  giving  way  to  the  workings  of  human  imagination  and  to  the 
insinuations  of  Satan  instead  of  patiently  alnding  in  him.  the  true 
Vine,  till    he  had   j)urged   me  and  enabled  me  to  hear  fruit  to  the 


ISK!  .lorUXAI,    OF    THOMAS    AUXKTT.  15 

praise  aiul  <>lorv  of  his  yivat  uaine.  He  also  again  and  again  gave 
me  to  taste  and  to  see  that  he  is  good.  He  wonderfully  erased  all 
doubts  from  my  mind,  and  gave  me  eonvineing  evidenees  tluit  he 
luid  ealled  me  to  repentance  and  to  salvation  ;  that  his  good  spirit 
had  wooed  my  soul  from  early  life,  acceptal^ly  to  walk  with  him, 
and  that  if  I  performed  liis  will  it  would  be  required  of  me  some 
day  to  tell  otliers  of  his  gracious  dealings  with  my  soul.  Blessed 
be  his  holy  name  now  and  forever! 

After  this  my  soul  was  replete  with  a  measure  of  divine  love  for 
some  days.  I  found  access  to  the  throne  of  grace,  where  I  poured 
out  my  soul  in  prayer  and  supplication.  I  sang  ])raises  to  the  God 
of  my  salvation,  and  gave  him  thanks  for  what  he  had  done  for  me. 

While  I  was  tlnis  feasting  on  divine  things,  a  spark  of  spiritual 
pride  crept  in  and  mixed  itself  with  the  j)ure  love  which  clothed 
me.  I  began  to  glory  in  this  love,  as  though  it  had  been  under  my 
control.  This  divine  love  then  left  me,  and  mists  of  deep  darkness- 
came  upon  me.  Every  light  appeared  to  withdraw  from  me  ;  my 
understanding  became  clouded  and  bewildered  with  gross  imagina- 
tion while  these  mists  of  deep  darkness  surrounded  me.  The  devil 
began  to  exert  his  power  to  delude  me  and  to  obstruct  my  advance 
in  the  Christian  warfare.  He  persuaded  me  there  was  no  God  ;  that 
all  things  came  by  chance,  by  nature,  by  the  fortuitous  jumble  and 
concourse  of  atoms,  without  any  creating  or  controlling  power  : 
that  it  was  chimerical  and  delusive  to  think  of  serving  or  fearing  a 
being  who  had  no  existence  but  in  imaginatioii.  I  became  deluded^ 
and  drank  down  these  poisonous  principles  as  {hough  they  had  been 
an  excellent  medicine  for  my  sin-sick  soul.  I  denied  the  existence 
of  the  eternal  God.  and  bid  defiance  to  every  power  Avhatever.  I 
gloried  in  the  thought  that  there  was  no  controlling  power  over 
me,  and  began  to  rejoice  in  the  idea  of  unbounded  and  unrestrained 
carnality  and  gratification,  and  that  I  was  not  amenable  for  my 
conduct,  not  considering  that  on  my  atheistical  scheme  I  was  un- 
protected aiul  had  no  more  to  hope  for  than  to  fear.  But  oh  I  the 
horror  and  indescrilmble  distress  which  soon  came  upon  me,  and 
Avhich  continued  torturing  my  soul  for  many  days  I  I  am  persuaded 
that  the  human  soul  can  suffer  more,  neither  in  time  nor  in 
eternity,  than  my  soul  did  at  times  in  these  days.  My  spirit  was 
so  tortured  l^oth  day  and  night  tliat  my  rest  was  broken,  sleep  often 
fled  from  me,  and  tiiei-e  was  nothing  which  delighted  nie  or  afforded 
me  the  least  degree  of  comfort.  Every  visible  ol)ject  liad  a  horrilde 
and  gloomy  aspect.  It  was  tlie  immediate  power  of  God,  1  believe^ 
tluit  thus  terrified  my  guilty  soul,  and  that  in  the  most  fatherly 
goodness  and  mercy,  in  order  to  prevent  my  going  on  to  endles& 
perdition,  to  whicli  I  appeared  to  be  sAviftly  approaching. 

I  was  at  length  brought  to  query  Avith  myself  Avhether  T  should 
exist  beyond  the  grave,  and  there  Avas  a  witness  for  truth  Avithin  me 
the  evidence  of  whicli    I  could  not  deny.      Aftei-  pondering  a  while 


14:  .lol  |;NAI.    of    THOMAS    AltNKlT.  isic 

1  WHS  constrained  to  acknowledge  the  existence  of  the  Imman  soul, 
that  tiiere  was  a  living  soul  inhabiting  this  clay  tenement  that 
would  exist  somewhere  when  the  body  was  mouldering  into  dust, 
that  Avould  either  be  compk'tely  happy  or  miserable  beyond  descrij)- 
tion  in  never-ending  eternity.  I  was  again  brought  to  query  how 
I  thought  this  soul  was  created  and  made  alive  and  the  witness  for 
truth  Avithin  me.  being  touched  and  quickened  l)y  that  power  which 
has  regulated  the  heavens  ami  the  earth  upwards  of  five  thousand 
years.  I  was  constrained  to  acknowledge  that  it  must  have  I)een 
created  and  spoken  into  existence  by  a  2)ower  superior  to  that  of 
man — by  a  supreme,  eternal  and  all-wise  power  ;  and  here  I  was 
completely  convinced  of  my  inconceivably  awful  situation.  The 
Lord,  Avho  has  ever  preserved  me  and  often  wrought  deliverance  for 
me,  cast  his  penetrating  eye  upon  me,  and  his  power  chained  down 
the  evil  in  me  and  reached  to  the  good  seed  in  me.  I  boAved  in 
self-abhorrence  and  we})t  bitterly,  and  under  a  sensible  conviction 
of  my  guilt  and  sin  I  humbly  cried  out.  "  I  have  sinned  I  'Uigainst 
tliee^  thee  onh/.  J/avc  I  .sinned.'''  I  betook  myself  to  prayer  and  se- 
rious retirement  before  the  Lord.  I  sought  him  with  many  bitter 
tears  for  many  days.  I  experienced  dee])  tribulation  and  i)roba- 
tions  in  these  days,  feeling  the  just  rel)ukes  aiul  chastisement  of 
heaven  for  my  impi-udence  and  transgression.  I  became  truly  sen- 
.■<ible  of  my  OAvn  weakness.  I  conceived  that  of  myself  I  could  do 
no  good'  tiling;  tiierefore.  iu)t  in  my  own  will,  but  in  the  abilitv 
and  strength  of  the  Most  ILgh.  I  formed  the  good  resolution  that 
I  would  cry  to  my  God  all  the  days  of  my  life,  aiul  endeavor  to 
serve  him  alwavs  with  a  perfect  heart  and  with  a  Avilling  mind, 
whether  he  ever  accepted  of  me  or  not.  anticipating  a  hope  tliat  he 
would  accept  of  me  in  the  hour  of  dissolution,  if  not  before,  if  I 
should  cleave  to  him  all  my  life  long  with  sincerity,  sensible  if  I 
should  even  never  find  acceptance  with  him  till  that  solemn  time, 
and  then  should  be  received  into  the  mansions  of  bliss,  all  would 
be  well  with  me  ;  and  this  good  resolution  I  have  never  broken,  but 
have  endeavored  to  l)e  obedient  to  the  will  of  heaven  ever  since  1 
formed  it.  Oh  !  tliecominmcfion  and  self-abhoi'i'cncc  wliidi  clothiMl 
my  miml  for  some  months! 

After  the  Lord  had  for  many  days  set  my  sins  in  order  before 
me,  and  proved  my  sincerity  by  rebukes  ami  chastisements,  and 
after  I  had  repented  of  them  with  numy  bitter  tears  and  deep  sor- 
rows, he  returned  to  me  with  healing  in  his  wings,  and  gave  me 
again  to  taste  a  measure  of  his  divine  love.  O  wondrous  goodness, 
condescension  and  mercy  !  He  opened  my  undci'standiiig  to  con- 
sider the  immensity  of  Ids  Avork,  and  1  s;nv  the  glory  of  creation 
and  the  beauty  of  holiness;  and  uiider  a  scnsibU'  conviction  of  bis 
])OAver,  goodness  and  mercy  I  could  not  foi-bcar  ci'ving  out  with 
King  David.  "When  T  consider  tiiy  iieavcns.  the  work  of  tliy  tin- 
kers, the  moon  and   the  stars,  which  thou  hast  ordained,  what  is 


iSKi  JoriJNAL    OF    'I'll O.MAS    AliNK'lT.  15 

man  that  tlioii  art  iiiiiulful  (if  liiiii.  and  the  son  of  iiuiii  lliat  llioii 
visitest  liiiu  ?  " 

Kvery  visil)k»  ohject  most  fouviiieiiigly  coiihnncd  the  existence 
of  Hod  to  me.  I  saw  liini,  as  it  were,  in  every  bush,  and  even  in 
every  particle  of  created  matter.  I  was  sliocked  l)eyond  description 
to  think  my  tinderstandin<i-  could  have  ever  been  so  imposed  upon 
or  so  deluded  as  to  deny  the  existence  of  the  Author  of  my  hein^'. 
iind  to  conceive  myself  to  he  under  no  controlling  ])OAver. 

Oh  !  the  goodness  and  long  forbearance  of  Almighty  God,  thus 
to  follow  me  up  and  thus  to  cleliver  me  from  time  to  time  from  ap- 
proaching inevitable  ruin  and  destrtictioni  His  love  is  unbounded. 
His  mercy  is  over  all  his  works.  Let  me  ever  Avorship  him  in  spirit 
and  iir  truth  while  traveling  throngh  tiniel  Let  me  fear  him  and 
give  glory  to  him  always;  and  when  my  pilgrimage  in  this  tribu- 
lated  world  shall  l)e  completed,  let  me  be  received  into  his  holy 
habitation,  where  there  is  joy  forever  and  ever! 

In  these  days  a  desire  was  often  renewed  in  me  to  l)e  joined  in 
connection  with  a  religious  society,  having  hitherto  lived  without 
ever  joining  myself  to  any  religious  denomination,  knowing  tliat  my 
l)reservation  consisted  not  in  names  and  forms,  but  in  the  power  of 
godliness  and  in  pure  religion.  I  had,  however,  frequently  attended 
meetings  for  worshi})  among  different  religious  denoniijuitions.  and 
at  some  of  these  meetings  I  believe  my  soul  was  editied  by  a  living 
g()S])el  ministry:  at  others  I  thought  I  saw  more  formality  than 
anything  else.  I  believe  there  is  a  living  birth  aiul  a  good  seed 
in  every  evangelical  denomination  ;  but  many  professors  of  Chris- 
tianity, I  fear,  dwell  more  upon  the  outward  i)erformances  of  relig- 
ious dtities  than  to  the  one  thing  needful,  that  of  yielding  i)erfect 
obedience  to  the  inworking  of  the  good  spirit,  the  power,  the  invin- 
cible power,  of  an  endless  life — the  spirit  of  the  evei'lasting  Uod — 
which  is  the  only  true  an.d  infallible  guide  for  tlie  followers  of  the 
Lamb  eveiywhere.  as  revealed  in  the  scriptures  of  truth  and  in  the 
hearts  of  the  children  of  men.  This  good  spirit  convicts  and  brings 
its  followers  to  the  living  and  new  birth;  and  as  obedience  is  yielded 
to  its  divine  motions  it  Avorks  in  the  garden  of  the  heart  and  sows 
the  good  seed  there,  and  Avaters  it,  and  it  grows  and  springs  up  into 
everlasting  life. 

I  believe  tiie  Lord,  who  is  no  respecter  of  2)ersons,  has  a  i)recious 
people  in  every  nation  and  in  every  Christian  denomination — a  peo- 
2)le  Avho  worshi])  in  spirit  and  in  truth — a  people  with  whom  he 
makes  his  abode,  and  to  Avhom  he  often  speaks  in  the  ear  of  the 
spirit,  Avith  a  still,  small  voice,  Avriting  his  laAv  also  in  their  hearts, 
teaching  them  of  his  Avays  and  guiding  them  in  judgment. 

I  had  hitherto  lived  in  the  vain  fashions  and  customs  of  the 
Avorld ;  and  the  Lord,  Avho  loves  truth  and  simplicity,  numifested 
to  me  that  he  had  a  controversy  Avith  these  things,  and  that  I  must 
depart  from  them,  and  become  crucified  to  the  Avorld,  and  it  to  me. 


K!  JOIRXAL    OF   TIKJ.MAS    ARXKTT.  isir, 

l)efore  I  could  wiilk  acceptably  before  him.  He  instructed  me  that 
my  manner  of  dress  and  address  was  offensive  in  liis  sight,  and  that 
it  was  his  will  that  I  should  conform  to  simplicity  of  dress  and  ad- 
dress, using  the  jjlain  scripture  language,  thou  to  one  and  you  to 
more  than  one  :  and  oh  I  it  was  truly  a  great  cross  to  my  natural 
will  to  yield  ol)edience  to  tliis  requisition,  to  conform  to  that  sim- 
])h'city  of  dress  and  address  so  much  despised  ])y  the  Avorld.  I  liad 
much  deep  exercise  on  account  of  this  duty  for  many  days.  I  also 
had  many  bitter  tears  and  cries  before  my  natural  will  became  sub- 
jected so  as  to  yield  to  it.  I  wished  to  shun  tiie  cross  and  substi- 
tute some  other  sacrifice  instead  thereof;  but  he  who  had  called  me 
into  the  performance  of  this  duty  showed  me  with  convincing  clear- 
ness that  he  would  choose  his  own  sacrifice  ;  that  neither  a  right 
hand  nor  a  right  eye,  neither  thousands  of  rains  nor  ten  thousands 
of  rivers  of  oil  would  by  any  means  answer  instead  of  his  requir- 
ing. I  found  that  liotli  scripture  and  grammar  warranted  the  pro- 
priety of  using  tliou  and  thee  to  a  single  person  instead  of  ijou.  I 
therefore  at  length  gave  up  in  faithfulness  to  this  requisition,  being* 
willing  to  be  something  or  nothing  for  the  Lord's  sake,  and  have 
ever  since  used  the  ^^lain  scripture  language,  tliott  to  one  and  you  to 
more  than  one  ;  having  since  also  avoided  giving  flattering  titles  to 
men,  but  called  them  by  their  own  pro})er  names.  And  as  it  lu^came 
from  time  to  time  necessary  to  procure  new  clothing,  I  eiuleavored 
to  conform  my  outward  appearance  in  this  respect  to  tlie  dictates 
of  divine  wisdom,  observing  a  decent,  plain  dress ;  also  observing- 
simplicity,  plainness  and  honesty  in  every  part  of  my  conduct,  en- 
deavoring to  walk  a  blameless  life  before  my  fellow-creatures,  daily 
entering  into  solemn  scrutiny  before  the  court  of  conscience,  and 
there  brought  every  word,  thought  and  every  part  of  my  conduct 
to  the  test ;  and  in  the  observance  of  these  things  I  have  found 
much  peace  of  mind. 

I  now  began  to  have  scruples  rencAved  in  nic  from  tinu'  to  time 
respecting  war.  wishiiig  to  know  whether  it  was  right  for  Christians 
to  stand  in  arms  for  their  own  defense  ;  and  the  Lord,  who  is  ever 
ready  to  instruct  the  sincere,  soon  convinced  me,  I  believe,  of  the 
unhiwfulness  of  war  under  the  gospel  dispensation.  lie  taught  me 
that  neither  offensive  nor  defensive  war  can  be  hnvful  for  his  dis- 
ciples who  live  under  the  influence  of  his  love;  for  this  love  teaches 
us  to  pray  for  and  love  our  ciiomies,  to  return  good  for  evil,  and  as 
much  as  in  us  lies  to  have  peace  with  all  men.  lie  is  the  defense 
of  his  people,  and  needs  not  the  help  of  any  man  to  protect  them  ; 
and  if  all  tlie  children  of  men  would  yield  perfect  obedience  to  the 
gentle  motions  of  his  love,  wars  and  fightings  would  cease.  I  found 
that  the  Holy  Scriptures  ])redicted  that  the  day  was  a])pr()aching 
when  ■■  luition  shall  not  lift  up  sword  against  nation,  neither  siutll 
they  learn  war  any  more  :  "  niul  I  believed  that  this  day  had  ahvady 
come  to  every  one  who   had   embraced   the  })rin('iples  of  j)eace,  ami 


1816  .JOURNAL    OF     THOMAS    A  K  N  ICTT.  17 

had  attained  perfection  in  the  ivlii>n»n  of  him  whose  reign  is  a 
peacefnl  one,  and  whose  kingdom  is  an  cverhisting  one  :  whose  dis- 
ciples must  serve  him  and  not  the  world,  and  whose  love  hath  no 
bounds.  I  also  found  that  the  apostles  and  their  immediate  fol- 
lowers refrained  from  military  exercises.  Under  a  sensible  convic- 
tion I  refrained  from  military  duties,  l)elieving  that  heaven  had 
required  it  of  nie  to  bear  a  faithful  testimony  against  the  custom 
of  training  up  men  to  stand  in  arms  foi-  tlu'  purpose  of  luitional 
defense. 

I  had  ever  thought  from  early  life  that  it  was  not  right  foi'  man 
to  hold  his  fellow-creature  in  al)ject  bondage  from  general  ion  to  gen- 
eration, and  I  now  became  fully  convinced  of  the  rejjngnancy  of 
slavery  to  the  Christian  religion,  knowing  that  no  man,  according 
to  the  divine  precept  (^f  doing  unto  others  as  lie  would  wish  others 
to  do  unto  him,  could  hold  his  fellow  traveler  in  abject  slavery;  for 
freedom  is  the  natural  right  of  all  men,  and  none  Avisli  to  he  de- 
jn'ivedof  their  own  freedom  and  live  in  abject  servitude  under  their 
fellow  creatures;  but  all"  love  freedom,  and  none  should  l)e  deprived 
of  that  freedom  which  heaven  bestows  on  them. 

I  now  began  to  see  into  the  nature  of  true  and  acce})table  wor- 
ship unto  the  P'ather  of  Spirits  ;  that  it  consisted  not  merely  iu  the 
hearing  or  uttering  of  words,  but  in  spirit  and  in  truth;  for  (Jod  is 
a  spirit,  and  those  who  worship  him  aright  must  worshi})  him  in 
spirit  and  in  truth,  and  he  seeketh  sucli  to  worship  him  by  the 
gentle  and  persuasive  movings  of  his  spirit  in  the  soul ;  and  as  the 
soul  co-works  and  co-operates  with  the  inworkings  and  ojierations 
of  this  good  spirit  it  becomes  redeemed  from  the  pollutions  of  sin 
and  iniquity,  and  attains  to  an  establislnnent  in  the  everlasting 
truth.  It  often  hears,  in  the  cool  of  the  day,  a  still,  small  voice  di- 
recting in  the  way  of  life  and  peace,  and  when  it  attains  purity  it 
often  abides  in  perfect  silence.  The  activity  of  thought  being  put 
to  rest,  it  centers  in  God,  the  eternal  substance,  and  reverently 
bows  and  Avorships  him.  It  becomes  fully  acquainted  with  him ;  it 
understands  his  language  and  knows  his  will,  for  he  dwells  in  it 
and  gives  it  the  divine  law  ;  it  distinguishes  his  movings  from  the 
movings  and  actings  of  the  human  imagination  ;  he  preserves  it  in 
the  path  of  duty  while  it  inhabits  its  clay  tenement ;  and  when  it 
is  liberated  from  its  earthly  house  he  receives  it  in  the  mansions  of 
bliss,  where  it  enjoys  his  glorious  presence  for  evermore. 

I  was  made  sensible  that  the  true  worshipers  could  assemble  and 
gather  down  into  profound  silence,  and  worship  the  Father  inspirit 
and  in  truth  without  the  hearing  or  uttering  of  words  ;  he  being 
in  the  midst  with  them,  raising  their  souls  in  devotion  and  thanks- 
giving to  his  great  and  holy  name ;  teaching  them,  also,  how  to 
pray  and  what  to  pray  for.  Prayer  is  the  language  of  the  heart ; 
it  is  mental  aspiration  of  soul  to  him  who  livetli  forever  and  ever. 

I  Avas  also  made  sensible  that  all  gospel  ministry  was  nothing 


IS  JOUHN'AL    OF    THOMAS    AliNKTT.  iSir, 

sliort  of  divine  revelation  to  nnm  ;  that  (iocl  tauglit  lii.s  peojjle  liiiii- 
self.  and  raised  up,  instructed  and  brought  forth  his  own  ministers 
to  minister  his  word  to  the  people  ;  that  no  man  conld  preach  the 
gospel  when  he  pleased,  but  a  minister  of  Christ  must  abide  iu 
]iim — the  true  vine — till  he  receives  divine  ability  to  i)reach  the 
word,  and  when  he  preaches  the  gospel  his  ministry  carries  with  it 
the  seal  of  the  living  God,  sealing  instructions  on  those  who  have 
an  ear  to  hear  wliat  the  spirit  saith,  and  reaching  to  the  witness  for 
truth  iu  the  children  of  men. 

After  T  l)ecame  fully  convinced  of  these  things,  the  Lord,  I  be- 
lieve, impressed  my  mind  with  a  desire  to  join  myself  in  connection 
with  the  Society  of  Friends.  My  natural  will  had  an  aversion  to 
this  requisition,  because  of  the  simplicity  and  self-denial  conspicu- 
ous iu  the  genuine  members  of  this  Society  :  but  I  found  that  every- 
thing in  me  must  be  subject  to  heaven,  and  that  I  must  attain  to  a 
th(n-ough  establishment  in  the  everlasting  truth  before  I  could  be  a 
disciple  of  him  who  condescended  to  take  on  him  the  seed  of  Abra- 
ham, and  was  tried  Avith  all  the  temptations  and  i)robations  to  which 
I  am  exposed.  I  tiierefore,  after  spending  some  time  in  solemn 
deliberation,  and  finding  that  my  peace  consisted  in  joining  this 
Society,  fully  acquainted  myself  Avith  the  religious  principles  and 
profession  of  Friends  ;  and  finding  they  met  my  ai)2)robation,  believ- 
ing they  were  grounded  in  the  ever  blessed  truth,  and  were  consist- 
ent Avith  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  I  being  persuaded  that  I  could 
support  them.  I  requested  to  be  joined  in  connection  Avith  Friends 
of  Deep  Iiiver  Monthly  Meeting,  in  Guilford  county,  and  Union 
Preparative  Meeting,  in  Stokes  county  (the  vicinity  Avhere  I  was 
brought  up).  I  Avas  received  into  membershiii  on  the  5th  day  of 
the  eighth  month,  1810,  having  given  Friends  of  this  Monthly 
Meeting  ])roofs  of  my  sincerity  and  thorough  convincement  of  the 
truth.  1  have  since  diligently  attended  Friends'  meetings  for  disci- 
])line  aiul  Avorship,  finding  it  to  be  my  indispensal)le  duty  to  assemble 
Avith  the  Lord's  people  for  the  purpose  of  Avorshijiing  liim  in  spirit 
and  in  truth,  and  for  the  pur])ose  of  Availing  on  iiim  to  renew  my 
strength. 

I  have  long  conceived  it  to  be  an  awful  thing  to  present  the  body 
as  a  living  sacrifice  before  the  Lord  for  the  purpose  of  divine  AA'or- 
shi}).  Nothing  but  deep  humility,  self-abasement  and  solemn  retire- 
ment, Avithdrawing  the  mind  from  the  consideration  of  all  visible 
objects  into  ]n'ofound  silence,  abiding  in  him  and  he  in  us,  and  a 
true  sense  of  his  majesty,  power  and  divinity,  can  qualify  us  to  per- 
form this  great  and  indispensable  duty  ;  and  those  Avho  thus  ap- 
proach his  divine  and  awful  majesty,  do  Avorshi])  him  in  the  beauty 
of  holiness, — every  intervening  cloud  of  imagination  vanishes  from 
before  them,  and  he  awfully  jjcrvades  their  miiuls,  opening  theii- 
understanding  to  conceive  the  glory  of  the  immensity  of  his  works 
and  the  siiirituality  of  the  gosi)el  dispensation.     Oh  I  the  incalcula- 


ISK!  JOIKNAL    Ol-'     THOMAS    A  K  N  JlT'l'.  19 

1»l('  advantages  of  thus  appi'oacliiiig  the  majesty  of  lifavcii  for  the 
]mi'|)(»se  of  worshiping  that  lieing  in  s|)ii-it  and  in  trntli  \vlH)ni  the 
the  heaven  of  heavens  eunnot  contain  I  The  spiritnal  and  living 
branches  that  are  joined  to  the  true  vine  alone  know  these  advanta- 
ges, for  they  abide  in  hin)  and  he  in  them,  ena1>ling  them  to  dis- 
tinguish the  pure  from  tiie  impure,  ami  to  see  things  clearly  just  as 
rlu'y  are,  and  giving  them  to  taste  and  see  for  themselves  that  he  is 
good.  He  is  their  sun  and  shield,  and  will  give  them  grace  and 
trutii,  and  no  good  thing  will  he  withhold  from  them. 

Dear  ivader.  having  imparted  to  thee  some  account  of  the  Ijord's 
gracious  dealing  with  my  soul  while  I  was  traveling  through  the 
laml  of  sin  and  bond.ige.  through  the  Avilderness.  towards  the  land 
of  rest  and  peace,  I  now  ^ish  to  pen  a  few  more  general  remarks 
res|)ecting  my  exercises  in  those  days.  I  am  fully  convinced  that 
many  of  my  deep  probations  and  bitter  sorrows  Avere  brought  upon 
me  by  my  disobedience  to  (iod.  llad  I  turned  to  him  and  rendered, 
perfect  obedience  to  him  when  he  first  visited  me  and  Avooed  my 
soul  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come.  I  should  have  shunned  many 
<'onflicting  and  afflicting  l)a})tisms.  I  tried  many  ways  to  flee  from 
him.  and  to  folloAV  the  vain  ])ropensities  of  the  human  imagination, 
but  he  followed  me  up  as  he  did  the  children  of  Israel  in  their  trav- 
els from  the  land  of  bondage  toAvard  the  land  flowing  Avith  milk  and 
honey  :  for  lie  heard  their  cries  and  groaiiings  in  the  land  of  oppres- 
sion, and  Avith  a  mighty  hand  he  brought  them  out  of  that  land, 
and  delivered  them  fi-om  their  enemies,  and  led  them  thi'ough  the 
wilderness  toward  the  promised  land.  \\'onderful.  A'ery  Avonderful. 
Avere  his  good  providence  and  gracious  dealings  Avith  that  ])eople  for 
numy  years,  from  generation  to  generation  !  When  they  disobeyed 
his  voice  and  transgressed  his  hiAV,  calamities  came  upon  them  ;  and 
Avhen  they,  from  time  to  time,  turned  from  their  folly,  repented  and 
cried  nnto  him,  he  lieard  them  and  Avrought  deliverance  for  them 
and  Avas  very  gracious  unto  them,  granting  them  his  love,  guidance 
and  protection.  He  has  thus,  in  some  degree,,  dealt  Avith  me.  He 
wooed  and  invited  me  to  turn  and  live  forever,  Avhen  I  was  procras- 
tinating the  improvement  of  my  time  in  the  land  of  darkness  and 
ignorance;  he  often,  very  often,  bade  me — "Flee  from  thy  sins  as" 
from  a  land  devoted  to  destruction  ;  repent,  and  Avalk  in  newness  of 
life";  he  sent,  as  it  Avere,  the  forerunner,  the  voice  of  one  crying 
in  the  Avilderness,  teaching  me  the  baptism  of  rej^entence,  setting 
my  sins  in  order  before  me,  and  jireparing  the  Avay  for  the  indAvell- 
ing  presence  of  his  love  and  pui'ifying  })ower.  He,  in  his  own  will 
and  time,  delivered  me  from  under  the  bondage  of  sin  and  death, 
and  led  me  through  the  wilderness  toward  the  land  of  rest  and  peace. 
When  I  disobeyed  his  voice,  afflictions  of  soul  came  upon  me  ;  and 
Avhen  I  repented  and  cried  to  him  Avith  sincerity,  he  had  mercy  on 
me.  I  Avas  tempted  many  days  in  the  Avilderness,  fasting  and  pray- 
ing, seeking  him  whom  my  soul  loved,  and  I  sought  him  till  I  found 
him.     Blessed  forever  be  his  holv  name  I 


20  JOrUXAI,    OF    THOMAS    ARXETT.  1816 

In  tlic  (lays  of  my  repontaneo  I  spent  niuoli  time  in  solem  retire- 
ment, often  Avitlulrawing  from  tlie  avocations  of  life  into  solitary 
woods  and  fields,  and  tliere  ponred  out  my  soul  in  prayer  and  sup- 
plication before  him  avIio  awfully  pervaded  my  sin-sick  soul.  Many 
of  tliese  places  were  silent  witnesses  of  my  grief  and  groanings,  and 
of  my  sorrow  and  Intter  tears.  These  places  ever  present  my  mind 
with  solemnity  when  tiiey  are  brought  to  my  remembrance.  After 
I  attained  to  an  establisliment  in  the  truth  I  spent  many  hours  in 
suffering  silence,  often  turned  inward  and  paused  ;  and  at  such 
seasons  I  at  times  had  much  poverty,  and  suffered  with  the  suffering- 
seed.  At  others,  my  spirit  Avas  turned  heavenward,  and  was  fed 
witli  tlie  bread  of  life  and  salvation.  I  often  witlidrew  into  solitary 
places  for  the  purpose  of  waiting  on  him  whom  my  soiil  loved.  F 
approaclied  Ins  diviiu^  majesty  in  profound  silence,  withdrawing 
from  all  worklly  considerations,  and  entering  into  the  closet,  and 
prayed  to  the  (lod  of  my  salvation  according  to  the  teachings  and 
dictates  of  his  divine  grace  and  holy  spirit.  I  thus  prayed  to  him 
secretly,  and  he  abundantly  rewarded  me  openly  ;  filling  my  soul  at 
times  with  a  measure  of  his  divine  consolation.  I  also  endeavored 
to  approach  his  divine  majesty  witli  fear  and  awe  when  I  presented 
mvself  for  the  purpose  of  divine  woi-ship ;  laboring  to  preserve  my 
spirit  in  a  right  frame  while  sitting  in  meetings  for  worship  ;  dis- 
l)osiug  it  for  divine  instruction  ;  abiding  in  awful  stillness  ;  feeling 
after  the  life  and  power  of  godliness  :  beseeching  the  Almighty  to 
enal)le  me  to  wait  acceptably  ]_>efore  him.  and  drawing  nigh  unto 
him  witli  holy  confidence  and  singleness  of  lieart.  I  at  times  felt 
poor  and  needy  while  thus  sitting  in  solemn  assemblies  ;  at  others, 
my  mind  was  pervaded  with  a  measure  of  that  pure  love  which  none 
can  fathom  saving  he  from  whom  it  emanates. 

Soon  after  I  l)ecame  a  memljer  of  the  Society  of  Friends  I  opened 
a  scliool  at  Union  meeting-house,  and  within  the  limits  of  this 
meeting.  T  afterwards  taught  school  for  some  years.  I  also  became 
a  constant  attender  of  this  meeting,  endeavoring  to  wait  on  the 
Jjord  therein  with  a  passively  disposed  and  quiet  spirit. 

I  had  hitherto  had  many  clear  openings  that  if  I  should  stand 
firm  it  would  be  required  of  me  to  tell  uiy  fellow  creatures  of  the 
Lord's  gracious  dealings  with  my  soul,  and  to  invite  them  to  come 
and  taste  and  see  for  themselves  tluit  he  is  good  aiul  full  of  mercy  ; 
and  now,  in  the  openings  of  divine  love,  it  Avas  often  rencAved  in  me 
that  the  time  Avas  at  hand  for  me  to  enter  upon  the  Avork  of  the 
ministry  ;  and  oh  I  the  aAvful  and  deep  concern  Avhich  this  l)rought 
upon  me  I  It  renewed  deep  and  unremitting  exercise  in  my  mind 
for  some  time  ;  my  natural  disposition  had  a  great  aversion  to  be- 
come a  nunith  for  the  Almighty  :  r  thought  1  had  rather  immedi- 
ate! v  leave  tliis  tribulatiug  world  and  enter  the  mansions  of  ever- 
lasting rest  than  to  I'cndcr  obedience  to  tliis  requisition.  I  pleaded 
manv  excuses,  and   desiivd.  if  consisteiit  Avith  divine  Avisdom,  that 


1817  JOLKXAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  31 

some  other  instrument  might  lie  chosen  instead  of  me.  But  lie  who 
knows  all  things  knows  best  who  to  choose  for  the  Avork  of  the  min- 
istry. I  found  but  little  rest  day  or  night  in  these  days,  and  shed 
many  sorrowful  and  bitter  tears,  my  exercise  being  so  deep  respect- 
ing the  work  of  the  ministry.  The  following  language  was  from 
time  to  time  repeatedly  sounded  in  the  ear  of  my  spirit :  '*  AVoe 
is  unto  thee  unless  thou  preach  the  gospel  I  If  thou  disobey  me  in 
this  respect,  the  sins  and  iiiirjuities  of  others  will  be  required  of  thee 
in  the  solemn  day  of  account  I"  I  at  length  liecame  willing  to 
sound  the  gospel  trumpet,  and  to  be  a  fool  for  Christ's  sake.  My 
s])irit  humbly  and  reverently  cried  out.  ''Lord,  tiiy  will,  and  not 
mine  be  done," — being  fully  convinced  that  my  peace  consisted  in 
rendering  obedience  to  this  divine  injunction.  I  now  became  truly 
desirous  to  enter  upon  this  great  work  in  the  right  time,  sensible  of 
the  awful  resjionsibility  in  which  it  would  inevitably  involve  me. 
(>h  I  how  I  prayed  ever  to  keep  pace  witli  my  unerring  guide,  and 
S])eak  in  religious  meetings  from  a  right  concern,  which  would  glo- 
rify God  and  give  peace  to  my  own  mind.  It  was  now  often  im- 
jiressed  upon  my  mind,  while  sitting  in  meetings  for  worship,  to 
stand  up  and  utter  a  few  words  ;  but  I  had  a  fear  of  beginning  this 
great  work  too  soon,  or  of  sjieaking  from  too  little  concern.  I  there- 
fore weighed  my  exercise  from  time  to  time,  abiding  in  awful  still- 
ness before  the  Maje  ty  on  high,  endeavoring  to  subject  everything 
in  me  to  the  everlasting  truth. 

Thus  it  passed  on  from  meeting  to  meeting  for  some  time,  till  on 
the  oth  day  of  the  first  month.  1<S17,  and  the  First-day  of  the  week. 
Avhile  sitting  in  our  meeting  for  worship  at  Union,  it  was  opened  in 
my  mind  with  induliitable  clearness  that  I  should  sustain  loss  in  the 
divine  life  if  I  i-efused  to  stand  up  and  bear  jniblic  testimony  in 
that  meeting.  I  therefore,  in  the  pure  opening  and  constraining 
power  of  that  love  which  erases  doubt  from  tlie  mind  and  gives  it  a 
clear  sense^  of  its  duty,  stood  up  and  uttered  a  few  words  in  the 
authority  of  Truth,  to  my  own  and,  I  lielieve,  my  friend's  satisfac- 
tion. I  believe  I  might  have  publicly  borne  testimony  in  the  name, 
life  and  power  of  the  Lord  rather  sooner  than  I  did,  but  as  I  was 
not  obstinately  but  carefully  backward.  I  seldom  felt  much  condem- 
nation for  witiiholding.  I  did.  however,  a  few  times,  feel  real 
uneasiness  on  account  thereof;  he  who  had  called  me  to  the  work, 
well  knowing  the  integrity  and  sincerity  of  my  heart,  that  I  was 
fully  disposed  to  serve  him  acceptably  and  endeavor  to  keep  pace 
with  the  divine  guidance  of  his  Holy  Spirit,  dealt  graciously  with 
me,  bore  with  my  infirmities,  taught  me  the  necessity  of  true  pa- 
tience, and  fed  me  Avith  the  sustaining  food  of  life  and  salvation. 
This  was  my  first  public  appearance  in  the  ministry,  and  my  soul 
was  afterwards  replete  for  some  days  with  a  measure  of  that  pure 
love  Avhich  this  world  can  neither  give  nor  take  away.  My  si:)irit 
rejoiced  in  him  who  had   led  me  through  many  conflicting  and 


.(OIKXAL    (»F    THOMAS    AnXKTT. 


afflicting"  l)aptisins  for  the  purpose  of  iTtiiiiiiii'  uw  and  prcpai'ing  iiu- 
for  his  service  in  the  clmrcli. 

My  second  pnl)lic  api)earanee  in  the  ministry  was  at  ourPre[)ara- 
tive  Meeting',  at  I'nion.  the  "iOth  day  of  the  first  month,  181T.  Avhen 
I  fonnd  a  living  exercise  renewed  in  my  S])ii'if  to  remind  Friends  of 
the  necessity  of  ])reparing  for  a  future  life  in  tlie  mansions  of  ever- 
histing-  rest,  and  of  ever  standing  ready  to  meet  Ilim  in  judgment 
Avho  is  of  purer  eyes  than  to  liehold  ini(|uity.  I  spoke  a  few  words 
very  much  in  the  cross.  ))ut  the  life  and  power  of  godliness  attendeil 
me  in  this  little  testimony  as  well  as  the  former.  T  afterwards,  for 
some  time.  ex|)erienced  the  renewings  of  divine  love  in  my  soul  :  1 
felt  sensible  that  the  Author  of  my  being  was  viewing  me  as  a  well- 
l)leased  Father:  my  spirit  rejoiced  in  bim  and  gave  glory  to  bis 
great  name  :  he  granted  me  bis  b<»ly  and  glorious  presence,  and 
nnule  my  joy  full.      Blessed  forever  be  his  adorable  name  I 

After  this  I  still  continued  my  faithfulness  and  sincerity,  often 
seeking  unto  and  waiting  upon  the  (iod  of  my  salvation  for  counsel 
and  direction  in  nil  matters  of  weight  and  importance  :  beseeching 
him  to  guide  me  in  the  counsel  of  his  own  wisdom,  and  ivsting 
wholly  on  the  arm  of  his  preservation  and  i)rotection.  knowing  that 
he  makes  all  things  subserve  bis  own  Avise  purposes  and  Avork  together 
for  the  good  of  those  Avho  serve  him  Avith  integrity  and  u])rigbtness. 
I  was  favored  from  time  to  time  to  reneAv  ami  increase  a  living 
acquaintance  with  him.  my  spirit  being  clothed  with  humility  ami 
solemn  reA"erence  ;  :ind  in  this  frame  of  mind  I  often  appr(»aclied 
the  throne  of  grace,  and  received  a  measure  of  that  pure  instruction 
which  conu's  down  from  heaven  ;  and  by  this  means  1  was  t'uahled. 
from  time  to  tinu'.  to  work  in  his  vineyard  to  the  peace  of  my  own 
mind  and  to  bis  honor,  glory  and  praise. 

^[y  public  appearances  in  the  ministry  were  not  vei'y  fi'cMjiiciil . 
and  mostly  in  a  few  words  at  a  tinu'  :  yet  1  have  some  few  times 
felt  sensible  conviction  for  saying  too  much,  and  for  w  liich  I  felt 
more  uneasiness  of  miml  than  I  have  often  felt  for  withholding.  I 
have,  however,  through  divine  prCvSerA'ation  and  pi'otection.  seldom 
appeai'ed  in])ul)lic  test  imony  oftener.  or  said  nioi'e  than  tended  to 
my  own  peace,  and.  I  believe,  to  tlu'  satisfaction  of  my  friends. 

On  the  Kiglit  day  of  tlu'  (ith  month.  iSJl.and  the  l^'irst-day  of 
the  week,  while  1  was  sitting  in  our  meeting  for  wurship  at  I'nion. 
the  spirit  of  pi-a\('i'  was  hi'cathed  upon  me.  and  the  power  of  ever- 
lasting strength  awfully  pervaded  my  mind,  and  in  the  fi'esh  open- 
nings  of  diviiu-  lo\f  I  was  constrained  to  kneel  down  and  ])ublicly 
a-ddress  the  thi-oni'  of  gi-ace.  Solemnity  pei'xaded  t  he  int'eting.  as 
well  as  it  did  my  own  mind,  while  T  ]>onred  out  my  soul  in  prayer 
and  su])plicati(»n.  This  was  the  tii'st  time  I  e\  ri' appeari'd  in  vocal 
puhlic  supplication:  and  it  was  very  mndi  in  theci'oss.  as  also  in 
awful  feai'  and  reverence.  It  was.  indeed,  a  vei'v  solemn  thing  to 
me.  publicly  to  call   on   the  nanu'  of  the  everlasting  (b)d.  and  ])our 


1818  JOrUNAL    OK    THOMAS    AliXKTT.  2'^ 

out  my  soul  in  praj-er  to  him.  ^Ey  soul  -was  replete  \\\\\\  sdleiim 
reverence  after  this  for  some  days,  divine  goodness  at  times  raising 
my  spirit  in  thanksgiving  to  him  who  livetli  forevei'  and  ever.  It 
has  since  ever  been  a  very'awful  thing  for  me  to  approach  the  Majesty 
of  lieaven.  and  address  the  throne  of  grace  in  vocal  public  su[)plie!-- 
tion.  Nothing  but  the  interceding  power  aiul  opening  of  the  spirit 
can  qualify  antl  enal)le  me  acceptably  to  break  forth  in  vocal  pi'aycr. 
and  address  that  lieing  whose  presence  jK-rvades  tlie  lieaven  and 

the  earth. 

Sometimes  while  I  was  sounding  the  gosj)el  trumpet  at  l''riends" 
meeting  for  worship,  divine  life  was  suddenly  withdrawn.  \\m\  the 
way  immediately  closed.  Darkness  pervaded  me  so  that  1  could 
say  nothing  more  availingly.  This  was,  I  believe,  to  show  me 
whence  all"  gospel  ministry"  emanates  ;  that  it  [jroceeds  from  him 
who  controls  the  revolutions  of  tinu'.  and  that  it  is  he  alone  who 
can  give  ability  to  preach  it;  that  I  should  minister  only  while 
he  gives  ability,  and  that  when  he  withdraws.  T  should  he  still,  and 
quietly  wait  for  the  emanations  of  his  divine  light  and  life,  fdi-  he 
as  it  were,  comes  and  goes,  according  to  the  wise  c(junsel  of  his 
own  will  and  purpose.  Oh  I  the  indispensability  ()f  patiently  abid- 
ing his  gracious  Avill,  for  he  knows  well  when  to  visit  and  when  t(» 
widulraw  the  light  of  his  countenance  for  the  good  and  instruction 
of  his  dependent  children.  Blessed  be  his  holy  name,  now  and 
forever. 

In  the  11th  month.  LSIT.  I  attended  our  Yearly  .Meeting  at  New 
Garden,  in  (ruilford  county.  It  held  a  number  of  days,  the  sev- 
eral sittings  thereof  being  times  of  divine  favoi-.  This  was  the  first 
Yearly  Meeting  of  Frieiuls  that  ever  I  attended,  and  it  was  a  n- 
freshiiig  season  to  my  spirit.  Several  inipressive  communications 
were  delivered  and  much  very  pertinent  and  suitable  counsel  ad- 
ministered, tending  to  strengthen  and  comfort  the  ])ure  in  heart 
and  to  admonish  the  forgetful  and  lukewarm. 

On  the  28th  day  of  the  first  month.  ISIS,  a  Monthly  Meeting 
was  opened  and  established  at  Union,  ami  through  divine  goodiu'ss 
the  opening  of  this  Monthly  Meeting  was  made  a  lu'aveuly  and 
comfortable  opportunity  to  Friends. 

In  these  days  I  experienced  nniny  vicissitudes.  1  had  many  trials 
and  some  comfortable  seasons.  I  sat  much  alone,  kept  silence  and 
bore  the  cross.  The  enemy  tried  every  artifice  to  dectMvc  me.  lie 
even,  as  it  were,  changed  himself  into  an  angel  of  light,  and  came 
upon  me.  feigning  himself  to  be  the  Holy  One  ;  but  be  who  bmits 
his  power  anil  sets  bounds  to  his  goings  enabled  me  to  know  him  in 
all  his  transformations.  I  was  delivered  from  his  temptations,  and 
by  the  altility  which  Heaven  gives  I  overcame  him.  and  was  i)er- 
mitted  to  eat  of  the  fruit  of  the  tree  which  is  in  the  midst  of  the 
paradise  of  Ood.  I,  however,  experienced  many  contlicting  dis- 
pensations before  I   2:ained    the   victory  over  him.     My   works  of 


24  JOUKXAL    OF    THOMAS    AKXETT.  1818 

rigliteousness  were  broiiglit  to  the  test,  and  those  of  them  which 
crmkl  not  abide  the  Refiner's  fire  were  consumed.  The  rest  of  them 
stood  tlie  test  and  were  purified.  My  faith,  also.  Avas  much  jiroved. 
It  was  ahnost  ready  at  times  to  fail  me,  but  it  was  at  others  strength- 
ened by  him  with  whom  there  is  everlasting  strength  ;  in  whom  1 
trusted',  and  by  whom  ni}'  spirit  was  often  quickened  and  made 
alive. 

After  I  had  patiently  borne  many  refining  l)a])t!sms  and  received 
much  deep  instruction,  large  fields  of  labor  in  the  work  of  the  min- 
istrv  were  presented  to  the  view  of  my  mind,  and  a  willingness  was 
often  renewed  in  me  to  walk  in  the  path  of  duty  while  traveling- 
through  time,  and  to  do  the  will  of  the  Lord,  to  whom  be  ascribed 
all  praise,  glory  and  honor,  now  and  for  ever  I 

On  the  isth  day  of  the  eleventh  month.  1818,  in  the  morning,  a 
while  before  daylight,  I  had  the  folloAving  remarkal)le  and  instructive 
dream  :  I  dreamed  that  my  soul  was  liberated  from  its  clay  tenement, 
and  situated  between  the  lieavens  and  the  earth,  where  it  enjoyed  the 
utmost  peace  and  tranquility.  I  thought  it  retained  its  mental 
power  and  faculties,  and  Avas  released  from  the  concerns  of  time. 
I  thought  it  saw  the  grave  where  its  earthly  tabernacle,  the  body, 
was  laid.  I  thought  at  length  the  former  openings  of  divine  love 
respecting  the  work  of  the  ministry  were  brought  to  its  remem- 
brance ;  that  I  Jiad  seen  in  the  visions  of  the  Lord  large  fields  of 
labor  for  me  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  now  I  was  removed 
from  the  church  militant  (as  I  thought)  before  much  of  this  labor 
was  entered  into.  The  remembrance  of  these  things  broke  the  peace 
and  rest  of  my  soul ;  a  fear  pervaded  it  that  it  had  been  deceived, 
that  it  had  been  led  astray  by  the  insinuating  workings  of  the 
euemv,  instead  of  being  led  in  the  visions  of  the  Most  High  to  see 
a  portion  of  its  travels  and  labors  pointed  out  Avhile  going  through 
time.  I  thought  after  its  rest  had  thus  been  broken  with  these 
cogitations,  its  earthly  house,  the  body,  arose  from  the  grave  and 
again  received  it  as  its  tabernacle  and  place  of  alxxlc.  (Oh  I  the 
awful  solemnity  which  appeared  to  pervade  me,  to  think  that  1  had 
been  dead  aiul  was  brought  to  life  again).  1  thought  it  Avas  now 
renewed  in  me.  Avith  the  most  convincing  clearness,  tliat  I  had  not 
been  deceived,  but  had  seen  in  the  pure  oijcnings  of  divine  love 
large  fields  of  gospel  labor  for  me,  and  I  tliought  it  Avas  now  nuini- 
fested  to  me  tiiat  I  had  much,  very  much,  to  do  in  the  churdi 
militant  before  I  coukl  be  received  into  the  joys  and  glories  of  the 
church  triunii)hant  in  heaven.  I  tliought  I  at  length  became  en- 
tirely subject  to  the  will  and  direction  of  heaven,  and  Avas  raised 
above  the  earth  by  a  supernatural  power,  and  conveyed  along  Avitli 
tlie  utmost  ease  without  any  bodily  exertion  ;  and  to  my  right  there 
ai)|)eared  a  large  field  of  rye,  measurably  ripe  ;  and  under  my  feet 
tiu're  api)eared  wheat  Avhich  was  green  and  germinating,  Avliich  had 
just  grown  large  enough  to  overspread  the  earth.     While  1  was  thus 


182)  JOLfKXAL   OF   TITO>[AS   AKXETT.  25 

conveyed  along,  ]  viewed  the  rye  and  the  wheat  with  unspeakable 
concern,  and  the  indescribable  awe  which  appeared  to  pervade  me, 
at  length  broke  my  slec]).  After  1  awoke,  my  soul  was  gathered 
into  tlie  profoundest  silence,  the  activity  of  thought  was  put  forest, 
every  intervening  cloud  of  imagination  vanished,  and  my  soul  cen- 
tered in  God,  the  eternal  substance.  While  thus  influenced,  the  in- 
struction of  the  foregoing  dream  or  vision  was  opened  in  the  ear  of 
my  spirit  in  the  following  manner  :  It  was  manifested  to  me,  in 
the  openings  of  pure  wisdom,  that  I  mast  become  thoroughly  cru- 
cified to  the  world  and  it  to  me  ;  that  everything  in  me  must  ever 
be  kept  under  the  control  aiul  influence  of  that  pure  light  which 
transcends  the  brightness  of  every  other  light ;  that  I  should  be  en- 
tirely subject  to  tlie  guidance  of  that  supernatural  ])ower  which 
governs  the  heavens  and  the  eartli,  and  controls  the  laws  of  nature, 
and  that  I  shouLI  laboi-  in  the  church  militant,  with  a  ]Hire  heart, 
and  with  clean  bauds,  according  to  the  pure  moving  and  directions 
of  this  good  ]>ower,  for  it  emanates  from  the  throne  of  grace,  and 
guides  the  children  of  light  aright  everywhere.  It  was  also  mani- 
fested to  me  that  tlie  field  of  rye  and  wheat  which  I  saw  in  the 
vision  was  an  indication  of  the  field  of  labor  in  the  work  of  the 
ministry  ;  the  rye  pointing  out  to  me  such  gos])el  labors  and  travels 
as  were  measurably  ripe  and  near  approaching  ;  the  wheat  such  as 
were  more  distant,  such  as  had  taken  root  in  my  mind,  and  would 
some  day  arrive  to  maturity,  if  I  should  continue  in  faithfulness 
and  patience.  These  things  were  opened  in  the  ear  of  mv  soul,  I 
believe,  by  him  who  is  the  fountain  of  good  and  center  of  perfec- 
tion, and  Avho  prescribes  various  means  and  ways  for  the  instruction 
of  his  devoted  disci])le,s,  leading  them  in  visions,  and  instructing 
them  himself,  according  to  their  capacities,  in  every  age  of  the 
world. 

For  some  days  after  I  had  tliis  dream,  seriousness  clothed  me, 
and  the  spirit  of  prayer  was  often  raised  in  me.  I  also  had  many 
clear  and  encouraging  confirmations  that  I  had  l>egun  in  tlie  work 
of  the  ministry  according  to  the  jwintings  of  truth,  and  that  as 
faithfulness  was  aljode  in,  1  should  expei'ience  a  gradual  advance 
and  growth  in  the  knowledge  of  the  everlasting  G(jsi)el. 

I  believe  that  every  one  who  comes  to  be  a  mouth  for  the  Al- 
mighty must  experience  his  jiurifying  and  qualifying  power,  must 
])ass  from  death  unto  life,  and  become  refined  as  gold  that  passes 
through  the  refiner's  fire  from  time  to  time  and  still  retains  its 
weight  and  value,  before  he  can  acceptably  handle  divine  tilings, 
and  rightly  divide  the  word  of  truth.  For  all  gospel  ministry  is 
pure,  and  it  ever  has  been  and  ever  will  be  preached  to  man 
through  ])ure  channels,  by  the  immediate  revelation  of  the  spirit  and 
])Ower  of  the  Lord. 

In  the  eiglith  month,  1850,  with  the  approljation  of  Friends  of  our 
Monthly  Meeting  of  Union,  and  in  com2)any  with  my  dear  friend 


20  .TontXAl,    OP    THOMAS    AUN'KTT.  isa 

Joiiiithan  ]\[ondGnhall  (a  Friend  of  our  Monthly  Meeting),  I  vis- 
ited the  families  of  Dover  Monthly  fleeting.  I  was  shut  up  in 
silence  and  })0verty  of  spirit  in  divers  families  :  my  spirit  was 
clothed  with  humility,  and  I  sought  the  guidance  of  him  who  gives 
ability  to  labor  availinglyin  his  vineyard,  and  he  was  graciously 
[)leased  to  open  my  mouth  in  a  number  of  families  with  the  word  of 
his  testimony,  and  he  also  enabled  me  to  divide  the  bread  of  life 
and  salvation  according  to  the  counsel  of  his  own  will,  lilessed  for- 
ever be  his  holy  name  I  ^^'e  visited  upwards  of  thirty  families,  to 
the  peace  of  our  own  minds,  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  Friends,  be- 
ing sensible  that  we  had  done  the  will  of  him  who  loves  obedience 
and  sincerity. 

In  this  year  I  also  visited  a  few  families  that  had  very  much  de- 
l)arted  from  genuine  principles  within  the  limits  of  our  own  Monthly 
Meeting.  I  had  the  company  of  a  worthy  friend,  one  with  whom 
my  spirit  traveled.  The  Lord  was  with  us,  and  enabled  us  to  do 
some  good.     Praised  be  his  holy  name,  now  and  foreverl 

In  these  days  I  experienced  many  conflicting  and  refilling  bap- 
tisms. I  had  many  deep  trials.  I  dwelt  much  in  solitude,  and 
abode  patiently  in  the  valley  of  humility,  beseeching  heaven,  with 
many  sorrows  and  tears,  to  preserve  me  from  evil,  and  to  establish 
me  in  the  i)ath  which  shines  more  and  more  unto  the  perfet't 
day.  I  spent  much  time  in  awful  abstraction  of  soul,  reverently 
abiding  the  reproofs  of  instruction,  casting  down  imaginations 
and  every  high  thing  that  exalts  itself  against  the  knowledge  of 
Grod,  and  bringing  into  captivity  every  thought  to  the  obe- 
dience of  Christ.  Departing  also  from  every  thing  which  indis- 
poses the  mind  to  receive  and  obey  the  precepts  of  pure  wisdom. 
The  Comforter  being  withdrawn  from  me,  I  felt  very  ]>oor  and 
needy.  I  liungered  and  thirsted  after  righteousness,  and  after  I  had 
experienced  many  refining  ba})tisms,  he  returned  to  me  with  heal- 
ing in  his  wings,  and  granted  me  a  measure  of  that  pure  love  which 
soothes  in  adversity  and  comforts  the  solitary. 

A  desire  having  impressed  my  mind  for  some  time  past  to  visit 
in  gospel  love  most  of  the  meetings  that  constitute  our  Quarterly 
Meeting,  and  to  appoint  some  meetings  among  those  not  of  our  so- 
ciety, 1  seasonably  opened  this  concern  to  Friends  of  our  Monthly 
Meeting,  and  received  their  unity  and  approl)ation.  Joseph  Men- 
denhall  (a  worthy  and  experienced  Friend  of  our  Monthly  Aleeting) 
was  my  comjianion. 

We  had  a  meeting  among  the  Afetliodists  at  Newhoj)e.  in  Stokes 
county,  on  the  tifteenth  day  of  the  sixth  month,  18'-31.  ]\Iy  spirit 
in  the  fore  part  of  this  meeting  was  much  cast  down.  The  spirit  of 
prayer  and  gospel  ministry  was,  however,  soon  breathed  upon  me. 
so  that  it  ended  to  i)rettygood  satisfaction.  We  had  another  meet- 
ing among  the  ]\Ietho(lists  on  th(^  sixteenth,  at  A.  1.  in  Guilford 
county.     This  was;igood  and  prolitable  meeting.     The  seventeenth. 


1821  .lorn  NAT.    or    THOMAS    ARXETT,  27 

{Uid  First  day  of  the  week,  we  had  a  large,  good  and  open  meeting 
at  Dover.  I  found  much  liberty  and  freedom  to  speak  to  the  states 
and  conditions  of  the  people.  The  eighteenth  we  had  a  good  and 
open  meeting  at  IIo])ewell,  the  power  of  divine  life  was  felt.  My 
spirit  was  clothed  with  prayer  and  gospel  love.  The  nineteenth  wc 
had  a  trying  and  exercising  meeting  at  Newbury.  My  spirit  was 
much  cast  doAvn,  poverty  pervaded  me.  I  uttered  a  few  words  in 
much  weakness,  and  the  meeting  closed  to  pretty  good  satisfaction. 
1  this  evening  had  very  deep  exercise,  my  spirit  symi)athized  with 
the  oppres:^ed,  and  I  besought  heaven  to  preserve  and  protect  those 
who  have  none  to  help  them,  who  go  mourning  from  day  to  day, 
under  suppression  and  abject  servitude.  The  twentietli  we  had  a 
meeting  at  the  usual  hour  of  Friends  meeting  at  Xew  (larden,  and 
one  in  the  afternoon  for  the  youth.  These  were  heavenly  and  pre- 
cious meetings.  The  spirit  of  the  everlasting  gospel  pervaded  us, 
and  the  spirit  of  prayer  was  also  breathed  upon  us.  The  twenty- 
first  we  had  a  painful  and  exercising  meeting  at  Sherburn.  I  felt 
the  life  to  be  weak,  and  in  much  poverty  I  spoke  a  few  words,  re- 
minding Friends  of  the  necessity  of  living  near  the  Fountain  of 
God.  The  twenty-second  we  had  a  good  and  favored  meeting  at 
Sandy  Springs.  I  was  much  opened  in  gospel  love  to  declare  the 
goodness  and  mercy  of  the  Lord.  The  twenty-third  we  had  a  meet- 
ing among  the  Presbyterians  in  the  northern  part  of  Guilford 
county  (the  vicinity  where  I  some  years  ago  taught  school.)  It 
was  much,  very  much  in  the  cross  that  I  went  among  these  people 
to  have  a  meeting,  but  the  Lord  was  with  me  this  day,  and  pre- 
served me  to  the  peace  of  my  own  mind,  and  to  his  glory.  He  em- 
powered me  to  declare  the  gospel  with  life  and  })owei'.  He  also 
breathed  on  me  the  spirit  of  prayer  and  supplication,  so  that  this 
meeting  closed  to  good  satisfaction.  Blessed  forever  be  his  holy 
name!  The  twenty-fourth,  and  First-day  of  the  week,  we  had  a 
large  meeting  at  a  Methodist  meeting  house  in  the  county  of  Rock- 
ingham, among  people  of  different  denominations.  The  testimony 
of  truth  availingly  went  forth,  to  the  peace  of  my  own  mind,  and 
to  the  humiliating  of  the  minds  of  the  people,  so  that  the  meeting 
ended  to  good  satisfaction.  Praised  forever  be  the  name  of  him 
who  is  full  of  mercy  and  tender  compassion  I 

On  the  fifteenth  day  oC  the  seventh  month,  and  First-day  of  the 
week,  we  had  a  good  and  open  meeting  among  the  Baptists  at  Ab- 
bot's Creek.  I  was  livingly  opened  in  gospel  love,  and  in  the  spirit 
of  prayer  and  sui)[)lication  among  these  people  with  whom  there  is 
a  living  birth  and  a  precious  seed.  This  meeting  closed  to  good 
satisfaction.     Blessed  be  the  Lord  I 

In  this  year,  in  company  with  a  friend  of  our  Monthly  Meeting, 
I  also  visited  a  few  meeting  and  families  within  the  limits  of  West- 
field  Quarterly  Meeting,  to  good  satisfaction. 

In  these  days  1  experienced  many  divine  favors,  the  Lord  was 


28  jorKXAL  OF  T]r():\iAS  akxktt.  i»22 

with  me  and  led  me  in  visions  ;  opening  my  understanding  to  see 
tlie  beauty  of  holiness,  and  the  sjnrituality  of  the  everlasting  gos- 
pel ;  under  a  humiliating  sense  of  his  o-oodness  and  mercy,  I  often 
reverently  howed  and  worshiped  liiin  in  spirit  and  in  truth.  ] 
daily  renewed  and  increased  my  acquaintance  with  him,  and  was 
much  encouraged  to  press  forward  in  the  way  which  leads  to  ever- 
lasting rest,  I  had  many  comfortable  seasons,  and  was  often  en- 
abled to  sing  praises  to  the  God  of  my  salvation,  to  whom  be  as- 
cribed all  glory,  honor,  and  dominion,  now  and  forever! 

In  the  first  and  second  months,  1822,  Avith  the  unity  and  concur- 
rence of  Friends  of  our  Monthly  Meeting,  and  in  com'pany  with  my 
beloved  friend,  Johathan  Mendenhall,  I  visited  m  gospel  love  the 
families  of  New  Garden  Monthly  Meeting.  I  also  visited  most  of 
the  meetings  that  constitute  this  Monthly  Meeting,  and  was  favored 
to  declare  with  tenderness  and  contrition  of  the  Lord's  gracious 
dealings  and  goodness  ;  and  with  gratitude  I  san^-  of  his  salvation. 
We  visited  u]jwards  of  a  hundred  and  fifty  families,  and  had  much 
good  service  for  the  Lord  :  sometimes  awful  solemnity  pervaded  me, 
at  others  serenity  and  peace  clothed  my  mind.  We  often,  while  sit- 
ting in  families," experienced  the  melting  power  of  Christ  Jesus  in- 
wardly revealed,  under  the  influence  of  which  power  we  reverently 
bowed  and  worsliiped  him  who  loves  a  spiritual  and  self-denying 
people,  and  .who  makes  his  abode  with  those  who  keep  his  word  and 
are  zealous  of  good  works.  My  spirit  was  often  clothed  with  gos- 
pel love,  and  with  prayer  and  supplication.  I  was  often  drawn  to 
speak  to  the  youth  in  a  measure  thereof.  Many  of  these  dear  young 
friends  were  broken  and  melted  into  tears  and  contrition.  They 
manifested  a  disposition  to  receive  the  truth,  and  to  improve  their 
minds  in  things  which  pertain  to  everlasting  life.  Through  divine 
goodness  we  were  favored  to  perform  this  visit  to  the  honor  of 
truth,  to  the  peace  of  our  own  minds,  and  to  the  satisfaction  of 
our  dear  friends.  It  was  truly  a  very  solemn  time  with  me,  and  I 
believe  a  time  to  be  remembered  by  many.  All  praise  is  due  to  the 
giver  of  every  good  and  perfect  gift. 

After  this  "I  had  very  deep  exercises  and  probation  for  manydays. 
The  unwearied  adversary,  I  believe,  had  power  granted  him  to 
prove  my  patience,  integrity,  and  faithfulness.  He  presented  me 
with  manv  temptations,  and  finding  he  could  not  make  them  avail 
an vtiiing,' because  I  withstood  them  with  prayer  and  with  many 
tears,  he  then  l)roke  my  rest,  and  tormented  my  soul  both  day 
and  night.  I  thought  1  should  no  more  see  good.  When  I  slept 
lie  scared  me  with  dreams,  and  terrified  me  tbrough  visions.  AVhen 
J  awoke  he  tortured  my  soul  with  fearful  and  distressing  api)re- 
hensions.  Sleep  often  fled  from  me  because  of  the  deep  distress 
and  grief  of  mv  soul.  I  often  lay,  when  darkness  covered  the  earth, 
in  silent  grief 'and  ])ain,  pouring  out  my  soul  in  i)rayer  and  supjtli- 
cation,  with  many  bitter  tears,  beseeching  heaven  to  deliver  me,  and 


1822  JOrUXAL   OF   THOMAS   ARXETT.  29 

to  increase  my  faitli  and  patience.  My  spirit  was  much,  very  much 
cast  down.  It  experienced  many  vicissitudes  and  was  proved  many 
Avays.  I  was  much  abstracted  from  the  concerns  of  time,  and  my 
feelings  were  indescribably  dee])  and  awful.  I  at  length  rested  on 
the  arm  of  eternal  power  and  strength,  and  became  willing  to  suf- 
fer anything  that  would  glorify  him  who  had  ever  been  with  me, 
and  who  had  wrouglit  many  deliverances  for  me,  and  he  again  had 
compassion  on  me.  He  dissipated  my  sorrows  and  delivered  me 
from  the  buffeting  of  the  enemy,  and  mounted  me,  as  it  were,  on 
eagle's  wings,  and  sent  me  forth  in  the  s])irit  and  i)ower  of  the  ever- 
lasting gospel,  so  that  I  was  enaljled  to  declare  of  tlieways  of  right- 
eousness and  to  sing  of  liis  salvati(jn  and  goodness.  Blessed  be 
his  adorable  and  exalted  name,  now  and  forever! 

A  desire  having  impressed  me  for  sometime  past  to  visit  in  gos- 
pel love  the  meetings  that  constitute  Deep  Kiver  and  Westfield. 
Quarterly  Meetings,  in  due  season  1  laid  this  matter  before  Friends 
of  our  Monthly  Meeting,  and  they  had  unity  Avith  it.  A  respecta- 
ble and  experienced  friend  of  our  ^Monthly  Meeting,  was  my  com- 
panion. 

We  had  a  large  meeting  at  Deep  River  on  the  seventh  day  of  the 
fourth  month,  IS22,  and  First-day  of  the  week.  This  Avas  a  pain- 
ful and  exercising  meeting  to  me,  my  spirit  was  cast  down.  I 
spoke  a  feAV  words  in  the  ministry,  but  obtained  no  relief.  The 
spirit  of  prayer  was  at  length  breathed  on  me,  so  the  meeting  ended 
pretty  well.  I  this  evening  deeply  sympathized  with  those  Avho 
groan  under  oppression.  My  spirit  besought  the  everlasting  God 
to  have  mercy  on  those  who  oppress  their  fellow  creatures,  and 
show  them  their  folly  and  awful  situation,  except  they  repent  and 
let  the  oppressed  go  free.  I  also  besought  him  to  ])rescrve  me  in 
the  path  of  duty,  ami  enable  me  to  do  some  good  in  the  world,  for 
without  him  I  can  do  nothing  that  will  redound  to  the  praise  and 
glory  of  his  ever  blessed  name.  The  eighth  we  had  a  good  and  ed- 
ifying meeting  at  Jamestown.  Truth  had  the  ascendency  over  the 
niinds  of  the  people.  The  ninth  we  had  a  pretty  good  meeting  at 
Kennet.  I  was  favored  after  a  time  of  much  exercise  to  clear  my 
mind  to  good  satisfaction.  The  tenth  Ave  had  a  heavenly  and  pre- 
cious meeting  at  Springfield.  It  was  a  time  of  divine  favor.  I  Avas 
much  opened  in  the  ministry.  The  spirit  of  payer  also  Avas 
breathed  on  me.  The  meeting  closed  to  good  satisfaction.  The 
eleventh  Ave  had  a  small  and  trying  meeting  at  Piney  Woods.  The 
life  was  Aveak.  I,  hoAvever,  bore  a  small  testimony,  so  the  meeting 
ended  to  pretty  good  satisfaction.  The  fourteenth  day,  and  First 
of  the  week,  in  the  afternoon  we  had  a  large  and  good  meeting  at 
Deep  River  for  the  youth.  Solemnity  pervaded  our  souls,  and  the 
way  which  leads  to  everlasting  rest  was  pointed  out,  and  the  meet- 
ing closed  under  the  influence  of  divine  love.     Blessed  be  the  Lord! 

Having  visited  the  meetings  that  constitute  Deep  River  quarter. 


30  JOUKXAL    OF    TIKIMAS    ARXin'T.  1822 

we  proceeded  in  this  month  to  visit  those  thtit  constitute  Westfield 
quarter  ;  had  a  hirge  meeting  at  Chestnut  Creek  tlie  twenty-eighth 
day,  and  First  of  tlie  week.  Tlie  power  of  goodness  i)revailed  over 
a  worklly-minded  people.  The  way  of  regeneration  was  pointed 
out,  and  the  meeting  ended  pretty  well.  The  twenty-ninth  and 
thirtieth  we  rode  to  Hunting  Creek,  and  had  a  meeting  there  on  the 
first  day  of  the  fifth  month.  I  had  some  hard  and  close  lahor,  and 
I  thought  some  good  was  done.  The  second,  attended  Deep  Creek 
Preparative  Meeting.  Silence  and  serenity  2)ervaded  my  mind.  The 
third  we  had  a  meeting  at  Forbnsh  Creek,  in  the  fore  part  of  which 
my  spirit  was  cast  down  ;  in  the  latter  part  I  was  favored  to  relieve 
ray  mind,  so  it  ijlosed  in  tender  love.  The  fourth,  attended  Deep 
Creek  Monthly  Meeting,  and  also  attended  the  meeting  for  worship 
there  the  next  day,  it  being  First-day,  and  had  a  large  meeting 
there  for  the  youth  in  the  afternoon.  These  meetings  were  times 
of  divine  favor.  That  love  which  is  gentle,  pure,  and  easy  to  be 
entreated,  pervaded  them.  The  gospel  also  was  preached  to  edifi- 
cation and  comfort.  Praised  be  the  Lord!  The  sixth  we  had  a 
meeting  at  a  school-house  several  miles  from  Deeii  Creek,  and  the 
power  of  Truth  prevailed  over  a  restless  and  unquiet  2-)eoi)le,  and 
brought  them  to  a  sense  of  their  duty  and  awful  responsi))ility. 
Blessed  forever  be  the  name  of  the  Lord.  The  seventh  we  had  a 
good,  open  and  heavenly  meeting  at  Surry  court  house.  People  of 
different  religious  denominations  attended  this  meeting,  and  I  was 
mucli  opened  in  the  doctrines  of  the  everlasting  gospel,  to  the 
peace  of  my  own  mind,  and  to  the  edification  of  the  people,  who 
were  full  of  attention.  Stillness  pervaded  them  while  I  addressed 
them,  and  the  meeting  ended  to  good  satisfaction.  The  eighth, 
attended  Westfield  Preparative  Meeting,  through  which  I  sat  in  si- 
lence and  serenity.  The  ninth,  visited  a  number  of  f:miilies,  and 
had  some  close,  searching  Avork,  The  tenth  we  had  a  })roving  and 
exercising  meeting  several  miles  west  from  Westfield,  where  a  few 
Friends  live.  I  was  made  sensible  of  the  darkness  of  the  minds  of 
the  peo])le,  that  they  were  not  in  a  situation  to  receive  much  good, 
so  that  I  had  not  much  to  say  to  them.  I  left  them  with  some  sor- 
row. The  eleventh,  attended  Westfield  Monthly  Meeting,  and  next 
day  being  First-day,  we  attended  Friends'  meeting  there  for  wor- 
ship, and  had  one  in  the  afternoon  for  the  youth.  These  meetings 
Avere  times  of  great  exercise  to  my  mind.  Through  divine  good- 
ness, hoAvever,  I  was  favored  to  relieve  my  mind.  The  sincere  Avere 
encouraged,  the  insincere  Avere  Avarned  and  called  to  repentance,  so 
these  meetings  ended  to  good  satisfaction.     JMessed  be  the  LordI 

In  the  sixth  month,  with  the  ap})robation  of  our  Monthly  Meet- 
ing, Lagain  visited  in  gospel  love  most  of  the  meetings  that  consti- 
tute our  (Quarterly  ^Meeting,  and  had  some  meetings  for  the  youth 
within  the  limits  thereof.  In  all  these  meetings  the  Lord  was  Avith 
me,  and  empowered  me  to  bear  his  testimony  availingly.  I  had 
much  good  service  for  him.     Praised  forever  be  his  holy  name  I 


1S:2-J  .lOlKXAI,    Ol'    JIIO.MAS    A  KN  KIT.  31 

Oil  the  twontv-thirtl  of  this  month,  and  First  of  the  week,  I  had 
a  hirge  and  lieavonly  meeting  at  Guilford  court  lionse.  Many  peo- 
ple of  different  religions  societies  attended  this  meeting.  I  was 
much  opened  in  the  life  and  in  the  ])Ower  of  the  everlasting  gospel, 
to  declare  the  truths  thereof  availingly.  The  peoi)le  Avere  very 
quiet  and  still,  and  1  hojie  some  good  was  done.  The  meeting  sol- 
emnly closed  with  prayer  and  su])plication.  l^lessed  be  the  nanu' 
of  God! 

In  the  seventh  month,  in  company  Avith  my  dear  and  Avorthy 
friend,  Joseph  Mendenhall,  I  visited  the  families  of  our  OAvn 
Monthly  Meeting.  Tnis  family  visitation  was  a  time  of  divine  fa- 
A'or.  AYe  had  good  service  for  the  Lord.  AVe  Avere  favored  to  di- 
vide and  distribute  tlie  bread  of  life  and  salvation,  our  minds  being 
often  clothed  with  gospel  love  andAvith  deej)  humility.  Praised  for- 
ever be  the  name  of  him  who  teaches  the  meek  of  his  Avays,  and 
guides  his  devoted  followers  in  the  path  of  duty  I 

After  this,  for  some  days  I  had  deep  trials.  The  Comforter  Avith- 
dreAV  the  liglit  of  his  countenance,  and  mists  of  darkness  perA^aded 
me.  The  uuAvearied  adversary  seemed  almost  let  loose  against  me, 
to  buffet  me  Avith  doubts  and  Avith  fearful  api)rehensions.  Oh,  the 
distress  Avhich  came  upon  me  I  I  was  as  a  Avanderer  in  a  trackless 
desert,  and  I  sought  him  Avho  had  ever  been  gracious  to  me,  and  he 
at  length  returned  to  me,  and  Avrought  deliverance  for  me  and  gave 
me  a  measure  of  ])ure  joy,  and  taught  me  the  necessity  of  abiding 
ti'ibnlations  for  the  testimony  of  truth,  and  of  quietly  Avaiting  for 
his  salvation.  Magnified  be  his  holy  and  adorable  name  noAV  and 
forevermorel 

My  mind  liaviiig  Ijeen  drawn  for  some  time  past  to  visit  in  gospel 
love  tlie  AVestern  and  Southern  Quarterly  Meetings,  and  the  meet- 
ings that  constitute  them,  I  seasonably  opened  this  concern  in  our 
Monthly  Meeting,  and  received  the  unity  and  sympatliy  of  friends. 
A  respectable  friend  of  our  Monthly  Meeting  Avas  my  companion. 

We  attended  the  Western  quarter  at  Center  the  ninth  day  of  the 
eleventh  month.  1823.  I  was  shut  uj)  in  silence,  under  much  pain 
and  exercise  of  mind.  The  next  day  being  First-day  of  the  Aveek, 
the  public  meeting  for  Avorship  at  this  place  Avas  very  large.  I  Avas 
favored  Avith  a  small  testimony  to  the  comfort  and  edification  of 
some  minds,  and  the  meeting  closed  Avith  prayer  and  supplication. 
The  eleventh  Ave  had  a  good  open  meeting  at  Providence  ;  divine 
love  perA'aded  our  minds,  under  the  influence  of  Avhich  Ave  Avere 
edified  and  comforted.  The  tAvelfth  Ave  had  a  favored  meeting  at 
Hopewell.  My  sjnrit  Avas  clothed  with  gospel  love  and  Avith  the 
spirit  of  prayer,  and  in  the  openings  thereof  I  had  good  service. 
The  thirteenth  Ave  had  a  i)ainful  and  exercising  meeting  at  Cane 
Creek ;  a  fear  pervaded  me  that  the  life  of  religioii  Avas  weak  in 
this  meeting  ;  I  Avas  filled  Avith  mourning  and  sorrow,  under  a 
sense  of  unfaithfulness,  being  sensible  there  Avas  more  formality  in 


32  JOURXAL    OF   TirOMAS    ARXETT.  1822 

this  meeting  than  pure  religion.  Divine  Avisdoni  at  length  opened 
the  way  forme  to  point  out  things  just  as  they  were.  I  had  sonic 
close  and  hard  labor.  I  was  enabled  to  clear  my  mind.  I  believe 
some  of  the  memljers  of  this  meeting  were  reached,  and  saw  tlieir 
Avant  of  genuine  Christianity.  The  fourteenth  we  had  a  good  and 
heavenly  meeting  at  Spring  Meeting.  I  was  much  opened  in  the 
truths  of  the  gospel,  and  the  meeting  solemnly  closed  witli  prayer 
and  supplication.  The  fifteenth  we  had  a  pretty  good  meeting  at 
Ems.  The  sincere  were  encouraged,  and  the  insincere  were  ten- 
derly admonished.  The  sixteenth  we  had  a  precious  and  favored 
meeting  at  Southfork.  I  was  much  opened  in  the  love  of  the  gos- 
pel. Iwas  enabled  to  point  out  the  way  which  leads  to  endless 
fruition.  The  word  of  life  and  salvation  was  preached  availingly, 
and  the  meeting  closed  Avith  thankfulness  and  gratitude.  The 
seventeenth,  and  First-day  of  the  week,  we  had  a  meeting  at  Rocky 
River.  It  was  a  time  of  inuch  exercise  to  me.  In  much  poverty  I 
spoke  a  few  words  in  the  ministry.  The  meeting,  however,  closed 
pretty  well  with  prayer.  The  eighteenth  we  had  a  pretty  good 
meeting  at  the  Ridge  Meeting  ;  the  power  of  truth  prevailed  over 
a  vain-minded  people,  the  virtuous  Avere  comforted,  and  the  vicious 
were  Avarned  of  their  approaching  danger,  except  tliey  should  obey 
the  reproof  of  instruction.  The  nineteentli  we  had  a  precious  and 
heavenly  meeting  at  Holly  Spring.  The  truths  of  the  everlasting 
gospel  eminently  Avent  forth  andlivingly  baptized  many  tender  and 
precious  minds."^  Solemn  reverence  pervaded  us,  and  the  meeting 
ended  in  mucli  tender  sympathy  and  love.  Blessed  be  the  name  of 
the  Lord  !  Tlie  twentieth  Ave  had  a  poor  and  exercising  meeting  at 
Bethel.  I  uttered  a  few  Avords  in  much  Aveakness.  the  minds  of 
the  people  not  being  prepared  to  receive  much  good.  The  twenty- 
first  we  had  a  pretty  good  meeting  at  Nory.  My  mind  was  opened 
in  gospel  love,  under  the  gracious  influence  of  Avhich  the  sincere 
Avere  comforted  and  the  insincere  were  feelingly  admonished.  The 
twenty-second  Ave  attended  the  Southern  Select  Quarterly  Meeting 
at  New  Salem,  and  the  twenty-third  Ave  attended  the  (^larterly 
Meeting  for  Avorship  and  discipline.  Friends  Avere  favored  Avith  a 
degree  of  that  love  Avhich  qualifies  for  usefulness,  by  Avhich  they 
Avere  enabled  to  transact  the  affairs  of  Society  to  pretty  good  satis- 
faction. I  had  some  service  among  them,  Avhich  was  acceptable  to 
them.  The  twenty-fourth  being  First-day,  Ave  attended  public 
meeting  for  Avorship,  and  had  one  in  the  afternoon  for  the  youth. 
These  ineetings  were  large,  and  eminently  favored.  The  true  fol- 
lowers of  the  Lamb  Avere  much  encouraged  and  edified,  and  sinners 
were  called  to  repentance  and  self-denial,  lilessed  be  the  name  of 
the  Lord,  now  and  forever!  The  twenty-fil'th  we  had  a  Proving 
Meeting  at  Concord.  I  Avas  filled  with  sorrow,  under  a  sense  of 
unfaitirfulness,  being  sensible  that  some  of  the  members  of  tliis 
meeting  were  deficient  in  many  respects.     I  Avas  favored  through 


Ks2i  .lOUHXAL    OF   THOMAS    AHNKTT.  ^o 

divine  gooilnoss  to  dear  my  miml  and  to  point  out  tiicii-  (k'licicucles, 
8o  I  left  tlieni  with  u  degree  of  rejoicing.  The  twenty-sixth  we 
had  a  good  open  meeting  some  miles  from  New  Sak'iu.  w  liei-i'  some 
Friends  live,  and  where  they  sometimes  hold  a  meeting  for  woi-sliip. 
I  was  drawn  to  declare  of  tlie  Lord's  gracious  dealings,  my  spirit 
being  clothed  witli  gratitude  to  him  and  with  love  to  my  feUow 
creatures.  Tlie  twenty-seventh  we  attended  l^ack  Ch'eek  Monthly 
Meeting,  and  it  was  a  low  and  exercising  time.  I  was  })oor  anil 
needy.  I  however  had  some  acceptable  service,  and  the  meeting- 
ended  to  i)retty  good  satisfaction.  The  twenty-eightli  we  liad  a 
good  meeting  at  Marlborough.  The  power  of  (godliness  ])ervaded 
this  meeting.  It  solemnly  closed  with  ])rayei'.  lik'ssed  be  tlie 
name  of  the  Lord  ! 

My  employment  for  some  years  past  has  been  teaching  scliool, 
iiaving  taught  school  within  the  limits  of  our  Monthly  Meeting 
of  Union,  since  I  joined  the  Society  of  Friends,  five  years,  for 
Friends'  cliildren  and  others.  I  entertained  that  pure  regard  wliich 
is  the  badge  of  friendship,  and  they  esteemed  me  with  that  affection 
which  induced  them  to  receive  my  instructions  and  counsel  with 
gratitude,  and  this  principle  of  regard  is  still  alive  with  them  and 
with  me,  and  I  trust  it  will  be  cherished  and  kept  alive  during  life. 
1  have  taught  school,  in  all,  seven  years,  to  general  satisfaction, 
having  been  studious  to  improve  myself,  and  diligent  to  instruct 
and  counsel  my  pupils  in  literature  and  in  the  principles  of  virtue 
and  piety. 

Teacliing  scliool  is  certainly  a  very  arduous  enijiloyment.  and  one 
that  requires  much  learning,  virtiie,  piety,  jiaticiice  and  assiduity, 
as  well  as  a  2)enetrating  and  sound  judgment.  I  have  often  been 
alfected  with  sorrow  to  see  dear  and  tender  children  placed  under 
the  tuition  of  those  who  were  ignorant,  vicious  and  vain,  who  were 
not  acquainted  with  the  principles  of  virtue  and  piety.  Suck  will 
ever  do  more  hurt  to  the  youth  than  good.  I  have  been  taught  Ijy 
experience  that  moderation  in  schools  is  preferable  to  severitv. 
Children  should  never  be  reproved  in  a  passion,  but  they  should  be 
re2n-oved  with  mildness  and  discretion,  and  in  the  spirit  of  love  and 
meekness,  Avhen  they  violate  the  precepts  of  sound  wisdom,  I  have 
frequently  taken  solemn  opportunities  with  my  students  when  they 
violated  my  orders,  and  so  deeply  convicted  them  with  gentle  and 
right  words  that  tears  di-opped  from  their  eyes  ;  and  b}^  this  means 
I  won  their  regard  and  disposed  them  to  receive  my  advice  with 
gratitude.  I  believe  that  the  training  of  children  and  young  people 
in  families,  common  schools  and  public  seminaries  is  a  matter  of 
the  utmost  responsibility  to  those  who  have  them  in  charge. 
"Train  a  child  in  the  way  he  should  go,  and  when  he  is  old  "he 
will  not  depart  from  it." 

A  concern  having  impressed  my  mind  for  some  years  past  to  visit 
in  gospel  love  Friends'  meetings  in  Tennessee  and  tlie  meetings  of 


34  JOURXAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  1823 

Fi-ieiuls  that  constitute  tlie  Indiana  and  Ohio  Yearly  ilectings.  and 
})elieving  the  time  to  be  near  approacliing  for  me  to  pi'oceed  in  this 
great  work  and  Aveighty  service,  I  devoted  much  time  to  solemn  re- 
tirement before  the  Lord,  in  order  to  know  the  right  time  to  pro- 
ceed in  this  prospect.  ])eing  fully  resigned  to  his  holy  will  in  every 
respect.  My  soul  was  often  clothed  with  awfulness,  and  the  spirit 
of  prayer  Avas  often  raised  in  me.  I  besought  him  to  guide  me  in 
his  own  A\ay,  and  ever  to  be  with  me  in  all  his  requirings,  being 
sensible  that  he  knew  the  sincerity  of  my  heart,  and  Avas  able  to 
carry  me  through  his  work  to  his  oavu  glory  and  to  the  peace  of  my 
(nxn  mind.  / 

I  Avas  one  day  walking  in  the  solitary  Avoods,  ruminating  in  my 
mind  on  this  concern,  and  Avhile  I  Avas  pondering  it  silence  and  se- 
renity so  renuirkably  perA^aded  my  mind  that  I  stood  still :  and 
while  thus  influenced  this  prospect  opened  befoi'e  me  Avith  indubit- 
able and  convincing  clearness,  and  it  Avas  manifested  to  me  in  that 
pure  opening  which  erases  doul)t  that  the  time  had  fully  arrived  for  me 
to  proceed  in  this  prospect,  and  all  in  me  became  Avilling  to  be  devoted 
to  the  divine  will  and  to  be  governed  by  infinite  Avisdom.  I  therefore 
seasonably  opened  my  concern  and  prospect  in  our  Monthly  Meeting, 
and  received  the  tender  sympathy  and  unity  of  Friends.  They 
gave  me  a  good  certificate,  Avhich  Avas  carried  to  our  Quarterly 
fleeting  of  Xcav  Garden  in  the  Third  month.  1823,  and  it  Avas  there 
a])})roved  and  endorsed.  The  Lord  Avas  pleased  to  fill  my  soul  with 
strength,  and  I  gave  utterance  to  the  A\'eiglit  of  my  exercise  aiul 
concern  to  the  tendering  of  my  oaa'u  heart  and  the  hearts  of  my 
friends,  and  under  the  influence  of  his  love  I  obtained  the  tender 
sympathy  and  unity  of  Friends  of  this  meeting.  I  put  things  in 
order  and  made  pre]iaration  for  the  journey.  ]My  dear  friend. 
Jomithan  Mcndenhall.  having  found  a  concern  upon  his  mind  to 
accompany  me  as  far  as  truth  should  o])en  the  Avay.  he  seasona])ly 
opened  his  prospect  in  our  Monthly  Meetiiig.  aiid  obtained  the  ten- 
der sympathy  and  unity  of  Friends.  After  visiting  a  feAV  neigh- 
l)oring  meetings  of  Friends,  I  had  a  fareAvell  meeting  at  our  meet- 
ing-house on  the  tAventieth  day  of  the  fourth  month,  1823,  and 
First  of  the  Aveek.  It  Avas  very  large,  and  it  Avas  a  tendering, 
affecting  time ;  and  on  the  tAventy-sixth  day  of  this  month  Ave 
started  from  the  house  of  my  dear  companion.  We  took  a  solemn 
and  heart-tendering  fareAvell  of  his  Avife  and  children,  recommend- 
ing them  to  the  Lord  for  preservation  and  su])port.  and  rode  about 
forty  miles  to  Dee])  Creek.  On  the  twenty-seventh,  being  First- 
<lay.  we  attended  Friends'  meeting  for  Avorship  there.  I  bore  a 
s)nall  testimony  to  good  satisfaction  ;  and  on  the  tAventy-eighth  avc 
took  a  solemn  farewell  of  our  Friends  there  and  jjursued  our  jour- 
ney, anil  arrived  among  Friends  in  Teniu'ssee  on  the  second  day  of 
the  fifth  month.  On  the  third  wc  liad  a  meeting  at  Limestone, 
Avlievc  I  fouiul  some  good  service.     The  fourth,  being  First-dav.  Ave 


1823  JOIUXAI.    Ol"     THOMAS    A  K  N  KIT.  35 

liad  a  mootiiii!"  r.t  Ne\vh()|ti',  and  one  in  the  afternoon  at  Westlaiid. 
These  two  nieotings  were  seasons  of  divine  favor.  l)eing  owned  by 
the  Shepherd  of  souls.  The  fifth  we  had  a  meeting  at  Lick  Creelv, 
where  I  Avas  drawn  to  remind  ns  of  our  responsibility  to  the  great 
Creator.  The  aged  and  the  youth  were  tenderly  advised  to  fear 
him  and  to  give  glory  to  him.  The  sixth  we  had  a  meeting  at  the 
Presbyterian  meeting-house  in  tlie  town  of  Greeneville.  It  was 
attended  by  people  of  different  religious  denominations.  At  this 
meeting  I  Avas  much  ojieued  in  the  truths  of  the  gospel,  and  in 
l)rayer  and  supplication.  It  closed  to  good  satisfaction.  Blessed 
be  the  Lord  I 

We.  this  afternoon  and  the  two  following  days,  rode  about  one 
hundred  miles  by  the  Avay  of  Lost  Creek  to  Newbury,  to  attend  the 
Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends  there.  We  had  the  company  of  a 
number  of  Friends,  who  were  going  to  Quarterly  Meeting ;  but  I 
rode  much  alone,  my  mind  l)eing  so  remarkably  turned  heaven- 
ward that  I  thought  it  best  to  keep  silence  that  my  soul  might  re- 
ceive a  measure  of  that  instruction  Avhicli  comes  down  from  above ; 
and  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  lead  me  in  visions  to  see  his  wonders 
and  glory.  He  also  pointed  out  the  way  in  which  I  should  go  in 
this  journey,  so  that  I  saw  my  travels  opened  liefore  me  for  several 
hundred  miles.  I  also  was  renewedly  convinced  that  I  had  under- 
taken this  great  journey  according  to  the  pointings  of  truth.  The 
ninth  we  attended  the  Select  Quarterly  Meeting.  My  spirit  was 
much  cast  down  ;  it  was  a  low,  trying  time.  The  tenth  we  attended 
the  Quarterly  Meeting  for  worsliip  and  discipline.  Friends  were 
enabled  to  transact  the  affairs  of  Society  to  good  satisfaction.  I 
found  some  good  and  acceptable  service  among  them.  Blessed  be 
the  name  of  the  Lord  !  The  eleventh  being  First-day,  the  public 
meeting  for  worship  was  very  large.  It  was  attended  by  many  sorts 
of  people,  and  in  the  openings  of  pure  love  I  was  draAvn  to  admin- 
ister the  counsel  and  doctrine  of  truth  to  them  according  to  their 
several  states  and  conditions.  The  humble  were  much  encouraged, 
and  the  disobedient  Avere  warned  to  flee  from  the  Avrath  to  come. 
The  twelfth  Ave  rode  about  forty  miles  through  the  rain  to  Lost 
Creek,  and  on  the  thirteenth  we  had  a  good  meeting  at  the  Valley 
Meeting.  I  AA'as  favored  Avitli  a  living  testimony ;  the  tender- 
hearted Avere  comforted  and  sinners  were  called  to  rei)eutance.  The 
fourteenth  Ave  had  a  hu-ge  and  heavenly  meeting  at  Lost  Creek. 
The  power  of  the  Lord  Avas  present,  and  under  tlie  baptizing  in- 
fluence of  his  poAver  many  Avere  brought  to  seriousness.  Every 
class  Avas  spoken  to  and  invited  to  the  well-spring  of  eternal  life. 
The  meeting  ended  to  good  satisfaction.  Blessed  forever  be  the 
Lord  : 

HaAing  visited  the  meetings  of  Friends  in  Tennessee,  Ave  took 
our  journey  for  Cincinnati  on  the  fifteenth,  Avhere  Ave  arrived  the 
twenty-first,  after  having  a  solitary  and  discouraging  journeA',  and 


36  JOUKN'AL    OF    THOMAS    ARXETT.  182:t 

on  the  twenty-second  we  attended  Friends'  Meeting  there  for  Avor- 
ship.  It  was  a  low.  proving  time  to  me.  I.  however,  in  mncli 
weakness,  bore  a  small  testimony  which  gave  some  satisfaction  to 
my  drooping  soul,  and  the  meeting  ended  to  pretty  good  satis- 
faction. 

My  spirit  for  a  few  chiys  past  has  been  much  cast  d(j\\ii.  and  my 
mind  has  frequently  been  filled  with  dai'kness.  Try  me,  0  Lord  I 
Search  me,  and  see  if  there  be  any  evil  way  in  me,  and  lead  me  in 
tlie  way  everlasting.  Purge  me  from  time  to  time,  and  fit  me  for 
thy  service,  and  point  out  the  good  and  acceptal)le  way  before  me. 

The  2od  we  rode  about  thirty  miles  to  the  neighborhood  of  Friends 
of  Elk.  and  the  24th  we  rested  at  a  Friend's  house.  My  spirit  was  still 
mnch  cast  down.  This  was  truly  a  low  time  with  me.  I  i)rayed  the 
Lord  to  preserve  me  in  all  my  dee])  trials.  I  exercised  patience,  and 
was  resigned  to  the  divine  will.  The  25th,  being  First-day,  we  at- 
tended Friends'  meeting  of  Elk,  and  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  dissi- 
pate the  clouds  of  discouragement,  and  to  fill  my  soul  with  a  measure 
of  his  love  ;  and  nnder  the  influence  of  this  love  I  was  enabled  to 
declare  of  his  Avonders  and  goodness,  and  Avith  gratitude  I  sang  of 
his  sah'ation.  Blessed  forever  be  his  holy  name  I  for  he  e\'er  knows 
what  is  best  for  me.  He  brings  Ioav  and  raises  up  again.  He  is  my 
shield  and  exceeding  great  rcAvard.  Oh  I  that  I  may  reverently  fear 
him,  and  give  glory  to  him  in  my  actions,  for  he  is  worthy  of  all 
praise.  noAv  and  for  ever  I 

The  2(3th  Ave  had  a  good  and  heavenly  meeting  at  Westfield. 
Through  divine  goodness  I  Avas  enabled  to  declare  the  Avay  of  eter- 
nal life  Avith  poAver  and  authority.  I  trust  some  good  Avas  done. 
The  27th  we  had  a  small  meeting  at  Four  Mile.  The  life  was  Ioav. 
T,  however,  in  mnch  weakness,  bore  a  small  testimony  to  pretty 
good  satisfaction.  We.  this  afternoon,  arrived  in  the  State  of  In- 
diana (having  passed  throngh  the  State  of  Ohio),  and  the  three 
folloAving  days  we  had  meetings  at  Salem,  Sih'cr  Creek  and  Po})lar 
Eidge.  These  Avere  pretty  good  open  meetings.  I  had  some  good 
service  for  the  Lord,  and  on  the  31st  we  rode  to  New  Garden. 

Sixth  month,  1st,  we  attended  New  Garden  First-day  meeting, 
through  Avhicli  I  sat  in  suffering  silence.  My  spirit  Avas  much  cast 
down.  It  groaned  and  prayed  to  the  Lord  for  preservation  and 
patience,  feeling  the  Avant  of  that  fortitude  which  supports  in  time 
of  discouragement.  T"'he  2d  and  3d  we  tarried  among  the  Friends 
of  New  Garden,  for  darkness  so  pervaded  my  mind  that  I  coukl 
not  go  forAvard.  My  trials  Avere  A"ery  deep.  Divine  consolation 
had  AvithdraAvn  ;  doubts  and  distressing  apprehensions  came  upon 
me,  so  that  it  was  a  very  low  and  discouraging  time  to  me.  Try 
me,  0  Lord,  according  to  thine  own  will  ;  refine  me  in  the  furnace 
of  alTliction.  and  ever  preserA"e  me  from  the  pollutions  of  a  sinful 
and  deluded  world  I  The  tAvo  foUoAving  days,  way  opening  for  nu' 
to  go  forward,  we  attended  tlie  Aveek-dav  meetings  of  Friends  at 


182;!  .lOL'KXAL    OF    THOMAS    AHNKTI'.  37 

Dover  and  Woodbury  as  tliev  eanie  in  course.  The  life  was  low. 
I,  liowever,  in  the  openings  of  pure  wisdom,  liad  some  close,  hard 
labor,  believin":  there  were  deticieneies  existing  among  Friends  of 
these  two  meetings  which  ought  to  be  removed.  I  used  much 
plainness  among  them,  and  obtained  some  relief  :  and  tliej  were 
friendly  to  us,  aiul  seemed  desirous  to  improve  in  things  which 
pertain  to  everlasting  life. 

The  (ith  we  attended  the  Select  Quarterly  Meeting  at  Whitewater, 
where  I  had  some  good  service  for  the  Lord.  Awfulness  and  deep 
concern  pervaded  my  mind.  I  was  mnch  concerned  to  go  forth  in 
this  great  journey,  to  the  honor  and  glory  of  him  who  had  brought 
me  through  many  deep  trials,  and  had  sent  me  forth  into  the  world 
to  be  a  mouth  for  him.  The  7th  we  were  at  the  Quarterly  Meeting 
for  worship  and  discipline.  I  was  favored  with  a  short  but  edifying 
testimony.  This  meeting  was  large.  Many  worthy  Friends  were 
present,  who  seemed  to  be  concerned  for  the  cause  of  truth  ;  but  I 
thought  there  were  those  present,  also,  who  lived  more  in  the  spirit 
of  the  world  than  in  the  spirit  of  the  gospel,  as  is  the  case  with 
many  of  our  Society  in  many  other  places  where  I  have  been.  The 
8tli  the  public  meeting  for  worship  was  very  large,  being  attended 
by  many  sorts  ;  and  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  sound  the  gospel 
trumpet,  to  the  edification  of  his  children  and  to  the  warning  of 
sinners.  We  had  a  precious  and  heavenly  meeting  there,  in  the 
afternoon,  for  the  youth.  It  was  large,  and  mucli  favored  with 
the  doctrines  and  truths  of  the  gos])el,  which  many  received  with 
tenderness  and  gratitude.  The  9tli  we  had  a  small  meeting  at 
Orange.  This  was  a  low  time  with  me.  My  sjjirit  Avas  cast  down. 
I  bore  a  small  testimony,  which  gave  me  some  relief,  and  the 
meeting  closed  Avith  solemn  prayer.  The  10th.  Deep  exercise  at- 
tended me  this  morning.  My  spirit  breathed  forth  in  vital  prayer 
to  the  Lord  for  his  counsel  and  direction  in  this  great  undertaking. 
Oh  I  how  I  desired  him  to  lead  me  in  the  right  way  in  these  travels. 
AVe  attended  Westgrove  Monthly  Meeting,  where  I  had  some  good 
service.  Friends  were  reminded  of  the  necessity  of  Working  while 
it  is  day,  for  the  night  comes,  Avhen  none  can  Avork.  The  11th  avc 
had  a  meeting  at  AW'st  Union,  and  I  thought  divine  love  over- 
shadowed us,  under  the  influence  of  Avhich  I  bore  a  small  testi- 
mony to  pretty  good  satisfaction.  The  twelfth  Ave  hatl  a  good  open 
meeting  at  Milford.  The  ])OAver  of  the  Lord  was  present,  under 
the  guidance  of  Avhicli  I  bore  a  solemn  testimony.  The  i)ure  mind 
Avas  stirred  up,  and  the  slothful  Avere  roused  to  seriousness. 

The  tAvo  following  days  avc  rode  about  one  hundred  miles  to 
Driftwood,  and  the  fifteenth  being  First-day  we  attended  Friends' 
meeting  there  for  Avorship,  and  I  was  favored  Avith  the  Lord's  help 
to  encourage  Friends  to  press  forward  in  the  Avay  of  well-doing, 
knowing  that  in  due  season  Ave  shall  reap  if  Ave  faint  not.  The  six- 
teenth the  refining  hand  Avas  on  me.     Awfulness  })ervaded  my  soul. 


38  .TOrRXAI.    ()1-    THOMAS    AKXKTT.  182:$ 

My  feelings  were  in(leseribal)le.     ^ly  .s])irit  reverently  bowed  and 
prayed  the  Lord  to  remember  me  in  hi.s  loving  kindness.     We  rode 
about  twenty  miles  to  Blue  River,  and  on  the  seventeentli  we  had  a 
proving  meeting  at  Poplar  Grove.      F  was  under  deep  exercise.     My 
spirit  sympathized  with  the  tried  seed.      1  spoke  a  few  words  in  the 
ministry,  but  obtained  no  relief.     Tlie  meeting,  however,  ended 
pretty  well  with  prayer.     The  eighteenth  we  had  a  ])retty  good 
meeting  at  Mount  Pleasant.     The  searching  power  of  truth  was 
present,  and  the  states  of  the  people  were  spoken  to.     Clicerful- 
uess.  sweetened  with  gravity,  pervaded  me  this  day.     Every  visil)le 
object  had  a  pleasing  and  delightful  aspect  to  nic.     Tlie  nineteenth 
we  attended  the  week-day  meeting  of  Frientls  at  Blue  Kiver.  as  it 
came  in  course,   and   had   a  meeting   there  in  the  afternoon  for 
the  youth.      These  meetings  Avere  seasons  of   much  divine  favor. 
I  was  much  opened  in  the  gospel,  and   in   prayer  and   supplica- 
tion.    This  Avas   an   aAvful   day  with    me:   my  spirit  dwelt  deep, 
and   experienced    the    operations   of    that   refining   power   Avhich 
separates  the  vile. from  the  pure.     The  twentieth  Ave  tarried  among 
Friends  of  Blue  River,  and  had  a  meeting  this  evening  1)y  early 
candle  light  at  the  court-house  in  the  toAvn  of  Salem.      It   was 
large,  and  I  Avas  much  opened  in  the  loA'e  of  the  gospel,  and  in  the 
spirit  of  prayer  and  supplication.     The  tAventy-first  we  rode  about 
tAventy  miles  to  Lick  Creek,  and  the  next  day  being  First-day  A\e 
were  at  the  meeting  of  Friends  there,  and  the  testimony  of  truth 
eminently  Avent  forth  to  the  peace  of  my  mind  and  to  the  instruc- 
tion of  Friends.     We  had  a  Proving  Meeting  this  afternoon  at 
Beech  Grove.     The  people  Avere  not  in  a  situation  to  receive  much 
good.     They  Avere  more  Avilling  to  hear  than  to  im])rove.     I  spoke 
awhile  in  love,  but  feeling  the  life  to  be  low.  I  recommended  them 
to  divine  goodness  and  closed  the  meeting.     The  twenty-third  Ave 
rode  to  the  neighborhood  of  Friends  on  White  River,  and  the  next 
day  Ave  had  a  good  meeting  there.     GosjjcI  ministry  ilowed  freely 
to  the  tendering  and  humbling  of  many  minds.     The  tAventy-fifth 
AA'e  had  a  small  and  trying  meeting  at  Indian  Creek.     I  thought 
that  Friends  of  this  meeting  were  deficient  respecting  worshiping 
the  Father  of  mercies  in  spirit  and  in  truth.     I  reminded  them  of 
this  great  and  indispensable  duty,  and  they  appeared  to  be  disposed 
to  iinprove  in  the  Avay  of  Avell-doing.     The  tAventy-sixth  we  rode 
about  thirty  miles  to  a  neighborhood  where  a  fcAv  Friends  live,  and 
on  the  tAventy-seventh  Ave  l)ad  a  meeting  at  a  Friend's  house  for 
Friends  and  their  neighbors,  and  I  had  a  pretty  good  open  time 
with  them.     The  twenty-eighth  Ave  rode  about  fifty  miles  to  the 
neighborhood  of  Friends"^of  Tunnan's  Creek,  and  tlu-  tAventy-ninth 
being  First-day  avo  Avere  at  the  meeting  of  Friends  there.      I  was 
favored  to  speak  to  their  states  in  gospel  love.     The  meeting  sol- 
emnly closed  Avith  supplication.     The  thirtieth  the  preciousness  of 
timeAvas  this  dav  rencAvedlv  brouuht  to  mv  remembrance.    TTow  soon 


1823  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    AHXKTT.  ."I'J 

tlie  flower  of  youth  passes  away,  and  how  soon  age  overtakes  the 
children  of  men,  and  how  soon  tliey  drop  into  the  grave  to  be  seen 
of  men  no  more  !  Oh,  that  they  would  be  wise  betimes  in  that 
pure  wisdom  which  comes  down  from  heaven  and  which  would 
([ualify  them  for  usefuliless  while  traveling  through  time  and  pre- 
pare them  for  the  joys  and  glory  of  eternity  I  We  had' a  heavenly 
and  edifying  meeting  at  Union  (this  meeting  is  in  the  .State  of  Illi- 
nois, being  the  only  meeting  of  Friends  in  that  State).  The  ba})- 
tizing  power  of  the  Lord  was  present  and  baptized  many  souls  with 
teiulerness  and  contrition. 

Seventh  month,  first.  The  morning  was  luminous,  but  clouds  of 
douf)t  and  fearful  apprehensions  soon  pervaded  me,  and  deep  trials 
came  upon  me.  I  supplicated  the  throne  of  grace  for  ])reservati()ii 
and  protection  ;  and  I  thought  the  following  language  was  spoken 
in  the  ear  of  m}^  spirit  :  "  Be  patient  and  abide  probations  faith- 
fully, they  are  for  thy  good.  Repine  not  at  the  reproof  of  instruc- 
tion, but  rejoice  in  tribulation,  for  accordhig  to  thy  heights  so  will 
be  thy  deptlis."  This  injunction  disposed  me  to  quietly  wait  for 
the  return  of  that  pure  love  which  dispels  darkness,  and  erases 
doubt  from  the  mind,  and  soothes  the  solitary. .  We  had  a  trying 
meeting  at  Honey  Creek.  My  spirit  was  much  cast  down  ;  it  was 
a  low  time,  and  a  time  of  deep  exercise  to  me.  I  spoke  a  few  woi-ds 
in  much  weakness,  but  obtained  no  relief.  So  the  meeting  (dosed 
with  heaviness  and  discouragement  to  me.  The  second  we  rode 
about  fifteen  miles  to  Spring  Creek,  and  had  a  small  meeting  thei'i' 
on  the  third.  I  was  favored  with  a  small  testimony,  to  the  relief 
of  my  mind.  Blessed  forever  be  the  name  of  the  Lord  I  fY)r  lie 
is  wonderful  in  all  his  Avays  and  gracious  in  all  his  dealings.  The 
two  following  days  we  rode  about  seventy  miles  through  a  wilder- 
ness country  to  White  Lick,  a  newly-settled  part,  where  about  forty 
families  of  Friends  have  recently  settled,  and  the  sixth  being  First- 
day  we  were  at  their  meeting,  and  the  Lord's  testimony  went  foi-th 
to  the  tendering  and  uniting  of  many  hearts.  It  Avas  a  heavenly 
and  i)recious  opportunity.  The  meeting  solemnly  closed  witli 
prayer.  The  seventh  I  felt  ])ooy  and  needy.  I  was  cast  down.  I 
had  some  close  trials.  I  besought  the  everlasting  God  to  guide  me 
in  judgment,  and  to  increase  my  faith  and  strengthen  my  forti- 
tude, so  that  I  could  go  forth  in  his  name  and  fight  his  battles 
availingly.  We  rode  about  twenty  miles  to  the  town  of  Indian- 
apolis, where  we  had  a  meeting  this  evening  by  early  candle  light 
at  a  dwelling-house.  It  Avas  a  large,  quiet  meeting,  inost  of  the  i)eo- 
ple  of  this  town  having  never  before  been  at  a  meeting  appointed 
by  Friends  ;  and  the  way  opened  for  me  to  speak  to  them  on  divei-s 
subjects,  particularly  on  the  value  of  true  and  inward  retirement 
before  the  Lord,  and  I  thought  the  meeting  ended  to  pretty  good 
satisfaction.  The  two  following  days  Ave  rode  to  Milford  (Avhere 
Ave  had  been  before).     These  Avere  days  of  instruction  to  me.      I 


40  JOL'HNAL    Of    THOMAS    ARXf:TT.  1823 

was  tauglit  the  necessity  of  guarding  against  right  liancl  as  well  as 
left  liand  errors.  The  tenth  we  were  at  Milford  Preparative  Meet- 
ing, where  I  found  some  good  service  for  the  Lord.  It  was  a  com- 
fortable and  strengthening  season,  and  a  time  of  much  rejoicing. 
The  eleventh  we  rode  to  Fairfied.  and  had  a  small  meeting  there 
the  next  dav.  I  sat  some  time  in  suffering  silence.  I  Avas  at  length 
favored  with  a  small  testimony,  to  the  relief  of  my  mind.  The 
thirteenth  we  were  at  Springfield  First-day  meeting,  where  I  Avas 
somewhat  opened  in  gosjiel  love  and  in  sui)plieation.  The  four- 
teenth we  had  a  meeting  in  the  forenoon  at  Center,  and  one  in  the 
afternoon  at  Cherry  Grove.  These  meetings  were  seasons  of  divine 
favor.  I  was  enabled  through  divine  goodness  to  declare  the  way 
of  salvation  and  righteousness.  The  fifteenth  we  had  a  favored 
meeting  at  Dunkirk.  I  was  much  opened  in  the  love  of  the  gos]iel. 
The  meeting  ended  with  gi-atitude  and  humility.  The  sixteentli 
I  Avas  much  exercised.  My  spirit  reverently  bowed.  We  liad 
meeting  in  the  forenooirat  White  River,  and  one  in  the  afternoon 
at  Jericlio.  These  meetings  Avere  refreshing  seasons.  I  Avas  draAvn 
to  declare  the  Avay  of  righteousness.  I  had  some  close  Avork  Avith 
the  lukewarm,  believing  there  Avere  such  in  these  meetings.  The 
tender  hearted  Avere  enconi-aged  to  press  forward  in  the  Avay  of  self- 
denial.  The  seventeenth  I  felt  solitary  and  discouraged.  I  had 
much  concern  for  my  preservation.  Vie  had  u  small  meeting  at 
Xorwich.  I  was  favored  Avitli  authority  to  encourage  the  sincere 
and  to  advise  the  insincere  The  eighteenth  1  Avas  much  proved 
and  exercised.  We  had  a  meeting  at  Arba  ;  and,  after  sitting  some 
time  in  silence,  I  Avas  opened  in  testimony  to  the  comfort  and  edi- 
fication of  Friends.  It  was  a  pretty  good  meeting,  and  ended  Avitli 
solemn  praver.  The  nineteenth  Ave  Avere  at  New  Garden  Monthly 
Meeting.  Avhere  I  found  some  good  service  for  the  Lord.  Blessed 
forever'be  his  holy  name  I  The  twentieth  we  were  at  Chester  First- 
day  meeting,  and  experienced  the  refreshing  presence  of  him  who 
leads  his  devoted  followers  in  the  Avay  of  righteousness  and  peace. 
My  understantling  was  opened,  and  the  doctrines  of  truth  were  de- 
liA-ered  to  edification  and  consolation.  We,  this  afternoon,  had  a 
meeting  at  Smyrna,  and,  after  sitting  some  time  in  silence,  the 
spirit  of  prayer  Avas  breathed  on  me,  after  which  I  was  drawn  to 
address  tlie  youth  in  gospel  love  ;  so  the  meeting  ended  pretty  Avell. 
The  twenty-first  my  understanding  was  opened  to  meditate  on  the 
goodness  and  wisdom  of  God.  I  considered  the  immensity  of  his 
works,  and  Avas  renewedly  made  sensible  that  in  wisdom  he  created 
the  lieavens  and  the  earth  and  everything  else  which  he  formed, 
and  that  he  had  made  nothing  in  Aain,  but  everything  that  he  made 
Avas  good.  We  had  a  meeting  at  tlie  Hidge  Meeting,  and  I  Avas 
favored  to  speak  to  the  people  in  the  power  and  love  of  the  truth, 
to  the  tendering  and  comforting  of  many  minds.  The  twejity- 
second,  visited  sonic  families;  and  the  twenty-third,  iittended   the 


1823  JOURNAL    OF    THOMAS    ARNETT.  41 

Weok-dav  Meet i no-  of  Friends  at  New  Hojie,  as  it  came  in  course, 
which  was  a  pro\  ino-  time  to  me.  Tlie  life  of  religion  was  low.  I 
had  some  close  and  searching  labor  with  Friends  of  tliis  meeting, 
being  sensible  that  they  had  but  a  small  portion  of  that  love  which 
(iuickens  and  makes  alive.  I  recommended  them  to  the  fountain 
of  all  good,  and  parted  with  them  with  a  degree  of  rejoicing.  The 
twenty-fourth  Ave  were  at  the  opening  of  a  meeting  for  worship  by 
the  name  of  Lynn,  and  divine  wisdom  administered,  mucli  instruc- 
tion and  counsel.  1  was  opened  in  tlie  love  of  the  truth  to  declare 
the  Lord's  goodness  and  mercy  ;  I  was  also  o^jcned  in  the  spirit  of 
prayer  and  su|)})licati()n. 

The  twentv-tiftli  we  were  at  the  Select  Q.uarterly  Meeting  of 
Friends  at  Xew  Garden,  and  it  was  somewhat  a  low  time,  and 
Friends  ai)peared  to  be  sensible  of  it.  The  next  day  we  were  at 
the  Quarterly  Meeting  for  worship  and  discipline,  through  which  I 
sat  in  suffering  silence.  The  business  of  the  meeting  was  trans- 
ad  ed  to  pretty  "good  satisfaction,  a  number  of  well-concerned  and 
exercised  Friends  being  ])resent.  The  twenty-seventh  being  First- 
day  we  were  at  the  public  meeting  for  worship.  I  was  drawn  to 
bear  a  short  but  solemn  testimony.  We  had  a  heavenly  and  edify- 
ing meeting  this  afternoon  at  this  place  for  the  youth.  It  was 
large  and  much  favored  with  doctrine  and  counsel;  many  were 
melted  into  tenderness  and  contrition,  and  the  meeting  concluded 
with  solem  prayer  and  sui)plication,  after  which  I  took  a  heart- 
tendering  leave  "of  a  number  of  l'"riends,  who  were  full  of  love  and 
sympathv  for  me. 

'  My  dear  friend,  Jonathan  ^lendenhall,  believed  his  service  in 
this  work  to  be  done,  and  feeling  easy  to  return  homeward,  having 
traveled  as  far  as  his  prospect  extended  when  we  set  out  together. 
It  was  a  trial  to  me  to  iiart  with  him.  I  could  not,  however,  urge 
liim  to  go  forward;  I  therefore  left  him  at  liberty,  trusting  to 
Providence  respecting  another  companion  to  accomijany  me  in  this 
journey.  We,  therefore,  this  evening  took  a  heart-melting  fare- 
well of  each  other,  with  tears  and  desires  for  our  preservation, 
having  traveled  together  in  true  gospel  love  and  Christian  har- 
mony, his  sympathy  having  often  boi'ne  me  up  in  low  seasons. 
Mav'thc  Lord  bless  him  forever  I 

The  twenty-eighth.  Having  visited  most  of  the  meetings  of 
Friends  in  the  State  of  Indiana,  I  therefore  this  day,  in  company 
with  Paul   Beard,  a  resi)ectable  Friend  of  Cherry  Grove  Monthly 

Meeting,  rode  through  tlie  rain  about  thirty-five  miles  to  the  State 
of  Ohio,  and  had  a  good  and  highly-favored  meeting  the  next  day 
at  Union.  The  doctrines  of  the  everlasting  truth  were  delivered 
to  the  comfort  and  instruction  of  many  minds,  and  the  Lord's 
l)()wer  was  over  all.  Blessed  forever  be  his  name  I  The  thirtieth 
we  had  a  small  and  exercising  meeting  at  Concord,  where  I  sat 
some  time  in  silence  :  and  Avhile  I  was  musing  numy  subjects  were 


42  .TOFRXAL    OF    THOMAS    AilXKTT.  isti 

presented  to  the  view  of  my  miud  wliicli  ;i|)]ieared  to  be  replete 
with  instruction ;  but  they  had  not  the  liglit  of  life  in  them,  there- 
fore I  forebore  to  communicate  them,  knowing  they  would  not 
avail  anything  to  fhe  peace  of  my  own  mind  or  to  the  glory  of  him 
Avho  ever  knows  best  how  and  Avhen  to  instruct  his  people.  After 
the  Lord  had  sutliciently  proved  me,  and  found  no  disposition  in 
me  to  speak  in  his  name  without  the  light  and  life  of  truth,  he 
enabled  me  to  bear  a  small  testimony  to  good  satisfaction.  Blessed 
be  his  holy  name  ! 

We  had  a  meeting  this  afternoon  at  Mill  Creek,  where  I  had 
good  service  for  the  Lord.  The  solitary  and  discouraged  were 
soothed,  and  the  lukewarm  were  roused  to  serious  reflection.  The 
meeting  closed  with  prayer.  The  thirty-first.  My  mind  this  morn- 
ing was  luminous  and  replete  with  serious  reflection.  I  meditated 
on  many  passages  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  received  instruction. 
We  were  at  West  Brancli  week-day  meeting,  as  it  came  in  course, 
where  I  sat  in  suffering  silence  till  near  the  close  of  meeting,  when 
I  Uttered  a  few  words,  but  obtained  no  relief  of  mind.  After 
meeting,  for  a  few  hours,  my  spirit  was  deeply  tried  ;  darkness  and 
doiibtful  a})prehcnsions  pervaded  me ;  the  very  face  of  nature  aji- 
peared  to  frown  on  me.  I  felt  rebuked  and  much  cast  down.  I 
was  much  alone,  and  kept  silence.  We  had  a  large  meeting  there 
this  afternoon  for  the  youth,  and  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  turn 
away  my  probations  and  to  fill  my  soul  with  gosi)el  love,  and  in 
demonstration  of  his  spirit  and  power  I  was  drawn  to  open  manv 
doctrinal  points  to  the  instruction  of  many.  I  trust  some  good 
was  done.  Tlie  meeting  solemnly  concluded  with  sui)plication. 
Blessed  forever  be  the  name  of  him  who  works  for  his  own  eternal 
glory  and  for  the  good  of  the  children  of  men  ! 

Eighth  month,  first.  We  had  a  very  solemn  meeting  at  IJocky 
Spring.  The  necessity  of  standing  ready  to  meet  the  Author  of  all 
Good  was  brought  to  remembrance  ;  it  was  a  tendering  time.  Wo 
had  a  pretty  good  meeting  this  afternoon  at  Randolph.  It  Avas  a 
tendering,  open  time,  and  a  season  of  refreshment.  The  second 
we  rode  about  eighteen  miles  to  Sugar  Creek,  and  tiie  next  day 
being  First-day  we  were  at  Friends'  meeting  for  worship  there, 
where  I  was  favored  with  a  short  testimony  to  the  relief  of  my 
mind,  after  sitting  some  time  in  silence.  This  evening  the  refin- 
ing hand  was  on  me  ;  awfulness  and  solemnity  pervaded  my  soul, 
I  felt  solitary  and  disconsolate,  T  endeavorecl  to  abide  in  stillness 
and  to  kee])  silence,  I  prayed  heaven  to  preserve  and  protect  me  in 
every  vicissitude.  Oh  I  the  necessity  of  frequently  abiding  the 
Refiner's  operations ;  to  be  ]mrged  from  time  to  time  from  the  iiol- 
lutiona  of  sin  and  iniquity;  for  this  is  a  world  abounding  with 
temptations  and  sin  of  every  kind,  and  he  who  is  saved  must  hv 
purged  and  made  clean  by  him  who  is  full  of  purity,  mercy  and  love. 

The  four  I'oUowiDg  days  we  had  meetings  at  S])i-ingboroiigli,  'Pur- 


1823  .rori{XAL   OF  THOMAS    ai{xi:tt.  43 

tie  Creek,  Hopewell  and  bhe  Grove  Meeting.  These  meetings  were 
seasons  of  refreshment  to  many  precious  souls  ;  the  followei-s  of  our 
Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  were  edified  and  eomfortcd,  and 
sinners  were  entreated  to  turn  from  the  darkness  to  light  in  tlie  day 
of  their  heavenly  visitation. 

The  eighth.  My  concern  this  morning  was  very  deep  :  my  s])irit 
was  clothed  witli  humility  and  solemnity.  I  implored  the  Lord  to 
guide  and  direct  mo  in  his  own  way,  and  to  he  with  me  in  all  my 
goings  through  time.  We  attended*  Miami  Select  Quarterly  Meet- 
ing of  Friends  at  Waynesville,  and  under  deep  exercise  I  bore  a 
small  testimony  and  approached  the  throne  of  grace  in  supplica- 
tion. I  this  evening  enjoyed  peace  and  quietness  of  mind.  The 
ninth  we  were  at  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends  for  worship  and 
discipline.  It  was  very  large.  Many  worthy  and  respectable 
Friends  were  present.  I  found  some  good  service  for  the  Lord. 
The  next  day  being  First-day  the  public  meeting  for  worship  was 
also  very  large,  and  I  was  empowered  to  sound  the  gospel  trumpet 
with  power  and  authority.  We  had  a  large  and  pretty  good 
meeting  here  this  afternoon  for  the  youth.  I  was  much  opened  in 
the  counsels  and  doctrines  of  the  gospel.  The  virtuous  were  edi- 
fied and  encouniged,  and  the  vicious  were  much  convicted  of  the 
evil  of  their  doings.     The  meeting  ended  witli  prayer. 

Here  my  dear  friend,  William  Nixon,  of  New  Garden  ]V[onthly 
Meeting,  in  the  State  of  Indiana,  met  me,  in  order  to  travel  with 
me,  he  having  found  a  concern  upon  his  mind  to  accompany  me  in 
this  journey  as  far  as  truth  should  open  the  way.  Here  I  also 
parted  with  my  dear  friend  Paul  Beard,  wlio  had  agreeably  been 
my  companion  for  some  days  past. 

The  eleventh  we  had  a  large  and  good  meeting  at  C.esar's  Creek. 
The  power  of  the  Lord  was  over  all,  and  his  testimony  went  forth 
to  the  tendering  and  instructing  of  many  precious  minds,  and  to 
the  warning  of  those  who  trusted  in  the  riches  and  honors  of  a 
sinful  and  deluded  world.  Praised  forever  be  his  holy  name  !  We 
had  a  very  trying  and  exercising  meeting  tiiis  afternoon  at  Rich- 
land. I  was  made  sensible  that  the  people  were  not  in  a  situation 
to  receive  much  good.  I  therefore,  after  sitting  some  time  in  si- 
lence, spoke  a  few  words  in  love  and  much  tenderness,  and  then 
closeil  tiie  meeting.  I  this  evening  enjoyed  that  perfect  peace 
which  this  world  can  neither  give  nor  take  away.  Blessed  be  the 
name  of  the  Lord  I 

The  three  following  <lays  w(^  had  meetings  at  New  Hope,  Seneca 
and  Dover.  These  meetings  were  seasons  of  divine  favor.  TJie 
everlasting  gospel  was  preached  with  that  searching  power  which 
chains  down  the  evil  in  man  and  reaches  to  the  good  seed  in  him. 
Many  precious  minds  were  much  tendered,  edified  and  encouraged 
to  press  heavenward.  The  aged  and  the  youth  were  spoken  to  in 
the  love  of  the  truth.     Blessed  l)e  the  name  of  God  ! 


44  JOUKXAL    OF   THOMAS    AHXETT.  1823 

The  fifteenth.  We  had  a  meeting-  this  forenoon  at  Lytle's  Creek 
and  one  in  the  afternoon  at  Springfield.  These  meetings  were 
precious,  heavenly  ones.  The  sincere  were  much  encouraged  and 
sinners  were  called  to  repentance  and  self-denial.  The  sixteenth 
we  were  at  Center  Monthly  Meeting,  where  I  had  much  good  ser- 
vice for  the  Lord.  This  meeting  was  large,  and  remarkably  owned 
by  the  gread  head  of  the  church.  The  next  day  being  First-day 
the  meeting  for  worsliip  there  was  very  large,  and  I  was  largely 
opened  in  the  spirit  of  prayer  and  in  the  spirit  and  power  of  the 
everlasting  gospel.  Awfulness  pervaded  this  meeting,  and  many 
tender  and  i)recious  minds  were  much  instructed  in  the  way  of  sal- 
vation and  righteousness.  The  light  of  truth  transcendently  shined 
m  many  to  the  melting  of  them  into  tears  and  contritioit.  Every 
state  was  spoken  to  in  the  love  of  Jesus  Christ.  The  meeting- 
ended  to  good  satisfaction.  Blessed  forever  be  the  Lord  I  The 
eighteenth  we  had  a  large  and  pretty  good  meeting  at  the  court- 
house in  the  town  of  Wilmington.  It  was  attended  by  many  classes 
of  people,  and  I  had  a  free,  open  time  with  them  in  declaring  the 
doctrines  and  truths  of  the  gospel.  The  meeting  ended  to  satis- 
faction. 

Having  felt  drawings  in  my  mind  for  some  days  past  toward  the 
youth  in  the  city  of  Cincinnati,  we  now  turned  our  course  thither- 
ward, and  had  a  meeting  at  a  Friend's  liouse  on  the  way  on  the 
twentieth,  where  a  few  Friends  live  remote  from  their  meeting.  I 
had  some  small  service  among  them.  We  this  evening  arrived  in 
the  city,  and  next  day  we  were  at  Friends'  week-day  meeting,  as 
it  came  in  course,  where  I  had  some  good  service.  AVe  had  a  good 
open  meeting  at  Friends'  meeting-liouse  this  afternoon  for  the 
youth  of  this  city,  and  the  Lord's  power  was  over  all.  I  was  largely 
opened  in  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel.  Many  were  much  broken 
and  reached.  It  was  a  solemn,  tendering  time.  The  meeting 
ended  to  good  satisfaction.  The  twenty-second  we  had  a  small 
meeting  at  Sj)ringfield  among  the  Presbyterians,  and  I  had  a  free, 
open  time  with  them,  and  they  were  very  kind  and  friendly  to  us. 
The  next  day  Ave  rode  to  the  vicinity  of  Friends  of  Newburg,  and 
the  twenty-fourth  being  First-day  we  were  at  Friends'  meeting  for 
worship  there,  and  I  was  enabled,  through  divine  goodness,  to 
divide  the  bread  of  life  according  to  the  states  of  the  people.  We 
had  a  meeting  this  afternoon  at  Turtle  Creek,  where  I  was  favoi'cd 
with  truth's  testimony  and  with  ])rayer,  to  good  satisfaction.  The 
five  following  days  we  had  meetings  at  East  York,  Clear  Creek, 
Fall  Creek,  Wahuit  C'reek  and  Lee's  Creek.  These  meetings  were 
favored  opportunities.  The  Lord  was  with  me  and  ein])owered  me 
to  declare  the  doctrines  and  the  truths  of  the  gos[)el.  The  con- 
cerned and  well-inclined  were  renewedly  encouraged  to  hold  out 
faitiiful  to  the  end,  and  the  negligent  and  lukewarm  were  awaki-ned 
to  serious  thouffhtfulness  and  reflection.     The  thii'ticth  we  were  at 


18j:!  JOrnXAL  OF  THOMAS  ARNETT.  4-5 

Fairfield  Muntlilv  Meeting,  and  in  the  openings  of  divine  love  T  luid 
some  goood  service.  Tlie  next  being  First-day  tlie  pnblie  meeting 
for  worship  there  was  large,  through  which  I  sat  in  silence,  except 
a  few  words  which  T  spoke  just  before  the  close  of  the  meeting, 
tending  to  remind  the  people  of  the  necessity  of  looking  to  God 
for  divine  instruction.  We  had  a  very  large  and  pretty  good  meet- 
ing there  this  afternoon  for  the  youth.  Truth's  testimony  went 
forth  to  the  encouragement  and  instruction  of  the  well-inclined, 
and  to  the  warning  and  admonition  of  the  vain  and  proud.  The 
meeting  ended  to  satisfaction.  Praised  be  the  name  of  the  Lord, 
now  and  forever  I 

Ninth  month,  first  and  second.  We  rode  to  the  neighborhood 
of  Green  Plain,  and  the  next  day  attended  the  week-day  meeting 
of  Friends  there,  and  I  was  considerably  opened  in  testimony  and 
in  praver.     It  was  a  ])retty  good  meeting. 

My  "dear  companion,  William  Xixon,  having  been  unwell  for 
some  days  past,  and  now  grew  worse,  we  were  under  the  necessity 
to  tarry  in  this  vicinity  awhile,  he  not  being  able  to  travel.  The 
fourth  "I  left  him  awhile  m  the  care  of  Friends,  to  attend  Plum 
Grove  week-day  meeting  for  worship,  which  was  small.  I  was  fav- 
ored with  a  short  testimony  and  with  supplication.  I  returned  to 
him  in  the  evening  and  found  him  no  better.  The  5th  and  Gth  I 
tended  on  him  faitlifully.  He  grew  worse.  I  sometimes  doubted 
his  recovery.  I  was  much  cast  down  under  clouds  of  discourage- 
ment. I  felt  very  solitary  and  disconsolate  ;  darkness  pervaded  my 
drooping  soul  ;  cries  went  up  to  God  for  his  preservation  and  guid- 
ance. "Some  dear  Friends,  who  were  sensible  of  my  discouraged 
situation,  greatlv  sympathized  with  me,  and  their  unfeigned  kindness 
and  attention  tended  somewhat  to  soothe  me.  The  7th  being  First- 
day,  I  was  at  Friends' meeting  for  worshi]3  at  Green  Plain,  and  the 
Lord  was  pleased  to  dispel  the  clouds  of  discouragement,  and  to 
open  my  understanding  in  the  love  and  in  the  power  of  the  gosju'l, 
and  in  the  spirit  of  supplication,  so  that  I  had  much  good  service 
for  him.  Blessed  forever  be  his  holy  name  1  I  this  afternoon  iiad 
a  good  and  open  meeting  there  for  the  youth,  and  the  truth's  tes- 
timony went  forth  with  that  power  which  quickens  the  sincere  and 
convicts  sinners.  The  meeting  ended  with  prayer  and  supplica- 
tion. The  8th,  no  probability  appearing  that  my  companion  would 
by  any  means  be  able  to  continue  the  journey,  I  therefore,  with  the 
counsel  of  Friends  and  his  approbation,  came  to  the  conclusion  to 
leave  him  here  in  the  care  of  Friends,  and  pursue  my  journey,  feel- 
ing easy  in  my  mind  to  go  forward.  I  took  a  solemn  leave  of  him 
this  morning,  recommended  liim  to  divine  protection,  and  in  com- 
pany with  Seth  Smith,  a  respectable  Friend  of  Green  Plain  Monthly 
Meeting,  rode  upward  of  thirty  miles  to  King's  Creek,  and  the 
■  next  day  had  a  trving  meeting  there.  The  life  was  low.  I,  how- 
ever, found  some  small  service  for  the  Lord.      [I  afterwards  heard 


46  JOIKNTAL   OF   TIKXMAS    AKXKTT.  1823 

that  this  friend  recovered  and  got  home  to  his  family.  His  com- 
pany wliile  with  mo  was  very  agreeable.  He  was  meek  and  sincej-e. 
AVe  traveled  together  in  gospel  love  and  tender  sympathy.]  The 
10th  we  had  a  good  and  heavenly  meeting  at  Go^^heu.  I  was  much 
opened  in  a  living,  baptizing  testimony  ;  the  pure  in  heart  were 
much  encouraged  and  comforted,  and  the  lukewarm  were  tenderly 
admonished.  The  meeting  concluded  with  solemn  prayer.  The 
11th  we  had  a  pretty  open  meeting  at  the  Valley  Meeting.  The 
states  of  the  people  Avere  spoken  to  in  the  life  and  power  of  the 
gospel.  The  meeting  ended  with  prayer.  The  12th  we  had  a 
small  meeting  at  Upland,  where  I  bore  a  small  testimony  to  good 
satisfaction.  The  13th  we  rested  at  a  Friend's  house/  and  the  next 
day  being  First-day,  we  Avere  at  Friends'  meeting  for  worship  at 
Darby  Creek,  and  had  a  meeting  there  in  the  afternoon  for  the 
youth.  These  meetings  were  seasons  of  much  divine  favor.  The 
doctrines  and  truths  of  the  gospel  went  forth  with  power.  The 
upright  Avere  edified  and  encouraged,  and  sinners  were  visited  with 
the  tender  visitation  of  divine  love.  Blessed  be  the  Lord  I  Here 
my  beloved  friend,  Jesse  Faulkner,  a  respectable  Friend  of  Center 
Monthly  Meeting  (in  Clinton  Co.,  Ohio),  met  me,  with  a  prospect  of 
traveling  Avith  nic  in  this  journey,  he  having  found  a  concern  upon 
his  mind  to  accompany  me  as  far  as  truth  should  open  the  Avay, 
Avhich  was  a  great  satisfaction  to  me.  The  loth.  I  this  morning 
took  leave  of  my  dear  friend,  Seth  Smith,  who  had  agreeably  been 
my  companion  for  a  few  days  past,  and,  in  company  with  Jesse 
Faulkner,  rode  this  day  and  the  next  about  fifty  miles  to  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Friends  of  Allum  Creek,  and  had  a  small  meeting  there 
the  17th,  Avliere  my  mind  was  draAvn  to  supplicate  the  throne  of  grace, 
and  to  bear  the  testimony  of  truth  to  good  satisfaction.  The  18th  Ave 
had  a  small  meeting  at  a  Friend's  house  (Avhere  Friends  sometimes 
hold  meeting  for  Avorship).  I  had  some  small  service.  Tiie  19th  Ave 
had  another  small  meeting  at  a  Friend's  house,  and  one  in  tlie  after- 
noon on  the  liead  of  Allum  Creek  (places  where  Friends  also  hold 
meetings  for  Avorship.  These  three  meetings  Avere  Avithin  the  lim- 
its of  Allum  Creek  ilonthly  Meeting).  I  was  drawn  to  speak  in 
the  Lord's  name  at  these  two  meetings  to  edification  and  comfort. 
Tlie  20th  Ave  rode  about  twenty  miles  to  OavI  Creek,  and  tlie  next 
day  being  First-day,  avc  Avere  at  Friends'  meeting  for  worship  there, 
Avhere  I  found  much  good  service  for  the  Lord,  both  in  the  ministry 
and  in  prayer  and  sui)plieation.  This  ])Ower  Avas  over  all.  Blessed 
be  his  adorable  name,  noAV  and  forever  ! 

Having  visited  most  of  the  meetings  that  constitute  the  Indiana 
Yearly  Meeting,  Ave,  the  tAvo  following  days,  rode  about  sixty  miles 
to  Kendal  (Avithin  the  limits  of  Ohio  Yearly  Meeting),  and  had  a 
proving  meeting  there  the  24th.  The  life  Avas  low.  I  Avas  much 
exercised.  A\  ay  oi^ened,  however,  at  length,  for  me  to  clear  my 
mind  to  pretty  good  satisfaction.     The  25tli  we  had  a  meeting  at 


is-JS  ,)()IH\AI.    OF    THOMAS    AltNKTT.  47 

Deer  Creek,  and  it  was  a  proving,  low  time.  J,  however,  liad  some 
elose  and  searching  labor,  believing  tliat  l"'riends  of  this  meeting 
had  more  of  the  form  than  the  power  of  godliness,  I  was  under 
dee})  exercise  this  day.  I  addicted  myself  to  serious  retirement 
liefore  the  Lord,  and  kept  silence.  ]My  spirit  was  clothed  with 
humility,  ])atience  and  meekness.  'JMie  20th  Ave  had  a  heavenly 
open  meeting  at  Lexington,  where  1  was  o})cned  in  a  living,  baptiz- 
ing testimony,  to  the  awakening  of  many  to  seriousness  and  con- 
cern. The  27th  Ave  Avere  at  Marlborough  Monthly  Meeting,  Avhere 
I.  Avas  opened  in  gospel  love  to  declare  the  Lord's  goodness  and 
gracious  dealings.  Blessed  for  ever  be  his  great  name  !  The  28tli, 
l)eing  First-day,  Ave  Avere  at  Friends'  meeting  of  S])ringfield.  I  was 
.silent,  except  a  fcAv  Avords  Avhich  I  uttered  just  l)efore  the  close  of 
the  meeting.  I  Avas  much  exercised  this  evening ;  prayer  Avas  re- 
newed in  me,  that  I  may  ever  be  preserved  from  a  spurious  minis- 
try, and  that  I  may  go  forth  in  the  purity,  life  and  poAver  of  the 
gospel,,  working  in  the  Lord's  vineyard  to  the  peace  of  my  own 
mind  and  to  the  praise  and  glory  of  his  holy  name.  The  tAvo  fol- 
lowing days  Ave  had  meetings  at  Groshen  and  Center,  and  at  both  of 
these  places  I  Avas  draAvn  to  declare  the  Avay  of  eternal  life  Avith 
])ower,  and  serious  impressions  Avere  nmde  on  the  minds  of  many. 
I  thought  some  good  Avas  done. 

Tenth  Mouth  1st.  My  exercise  Avas  very  deep  ;  my  spirit  Avas 
clothed  Avith  aAvfulness  and  prayer.  I  dwelt  deeji  and  drcAv  near 
the  throne  of  grace,  and  communed  Avith  him  Avho  liA'eth  for  ever 
and  ever.  We  had  a  good  and  heavenly  meeting  at  Salem.  It  Avas 
large  and  much  favored  Avith  the  doctrines  of  the  e\'erlasting  gos- 
pel. The  Lord's  poAver  Avas  over  all.  The  faithful  folloAvcrs  of 
Christ  Avere  much  encouraged  to  press  forAvard  in  the  Avay  of  life 
and  peace,  and  the  Avick^d  Avcre  warned  to  flee  from  the  Avrath  to 
come.  AVe  had  a  large  and  pretty  good  meeting  there  this  after- 
noon for  the  youth,  which  Avas  also  favored  with  the  doctrines  and 
counsel  of  the  gospel.  Blessed  for  ever  be  the  holv  name  of  the 
Lord  : 

The  2d  we  had  meetings  at  Fairfield  and  Columbian.  I  had 
some  close  and  searching  labor  Avith  the  lukcAvai'ni  and  formal ;  but 
the  sincere  Avere  comforted  and  encouraged,  and  the  youth  appeared 
to  be  tender  and  contrite  under  a  sense  of  divine  goodness.  The 
3d  Ave  had  a  j^retty  good  meeting  at  MiddletoAvn.  Tlirough  divine 
goodness  I  Ijore  a  small  testimony  to  good  satisfaction.  The  meet- 
ing ended  with  })rayer.  The  4tli.  I  Avas  very  deeply  impressed 
this  morjiing  Avith  a  measure  of  that  ])ower  Avliich  begets  a  true 
concern  and  gives  a  right  spirit  of  judgment.  My  understanding 
Avas  opened,  and  I  Avas  led  in  the  visions  of  the  Almighty.  Large 
fields  of  labor  in  the  Avork  of  the  ministry  Avere  presented  to  the 
view  of  my  mind.  All  Avithin  me  reverently  bowed,  and  became 
Avilliug  to  do  the  Avill  of  heaven.     I  kept  silence,  and  receiA'ed  a 


48  JOURNAL    OF    THOMAS    ARN-ETT,  i«is 

portion  of  tliat  iustrnetion  which  emuiiates  from  the  throne  of 
grace.  We  had  a  very  highly  favored  meeting  at  Elk  Run.  The 
light  and  life  of  truth  triumphed  over  darkness,  and  the  doctrines 
of  the  eternal  and  glorious  gospel  convincingly  and  availingly  went 
forth  to  the  melting  of  many  into  tears  anil  compunctions.  I 
thought  every  individual  was  reached  and  hrought  to  acknowledge 
tlie  truths  and  tlie  power  of  the  gospel.  Awfulness  and  serenity 
2)ervaded  the  minds  of  the  peojile,  and  they  were,  every  one  of 
them,  I  believed,  fully  convinced  that  the  true  gospel  of  Christ  was 
I)reached  to  them  Avitli  life  and  with  power.  Magnified  for  ever  he 
the  name  of  him  who  works  miracles  and  wonders  both  in  the 
heavens  and  in  the  earth,  and  who  makes  known  the  way  of  right- 
eousness to  the  children  of  men  I 

The  5th  being  First-day,  we  were  at  Friends'  Meeting  of  Car- 
mel,  where  I  began  to  speak  with  a  small  opening  soon  after  the 
meeting  was  gathered  ;  and  by  being  deliberate  and  heeding  the 
motions  of  divine  life  I  was  gradually  opened  and  drawn  out  into 
much  gospel  labor.  Many  were  broken  into  tears  and  tenderness  : 
the  sincere  rejoiced  in  God,  their  salvation,  and  sinners  were 
brought  to  weep  on  account  of  their  wickedness  and  disobedience. 
The  Gth  we  had  meeting  at  Young's  Meeeting,  where  my  spirit  Avas 
cast  down  in  the  forepart ;  but  in  the  latter  ]iart  the  power  of  truth 
arose  and  reigned  over  a  light-minded  people,  so  that  the  meeting 
ended  well.  The  7th  we  had  a  meeting  at  l^eaver  Falls,  where  I 
also  was  cast  down  for  a  while,  till  the  light  and  life  of  truth  arose 
in  dominion  and  gave  me  utterance.  The  power  of  divine  life  pre- 
vailed over  a  jirond,  high-minded  people.  The  meeting  endetl  well 
with  solemn  jirayer.  The  8th  we  were  at  the  week-day  meeting 
of  Friends  in  the  town  of  New  Lisbon,  and  had  a  public  meeting 
in  the  afternoon.  These  meetings  were  favored  with  the  counsel 
and  instruction  of  the  truth.  I  was  opened  in  the  power  of  divine 
love  to  declare  the  word  of  eternal  life  to  edification  and  con- 
solation. Blessed  be  the  Lord !  The  9th  we  had  a  good  meeting 
at  New  Garden.  I  was  favored  with  a  short  but  edifying  tes- 
timony. Divine  love  pervaded  our  minds,  and  united  us  in  tender 
sympathy  and  Christian  fellowship.  ^Xc  this  afternoon  had  a 
trying  and  exercising  meeting  at  the  Grove  Meeting.  After  sitting 
some  time  in  suffering  silence,  I  bore  a  small  testimony  in  much 
weakness,  and  the  meeting  ended  to  pretty  good  satisfaction.  The 
10th  Ave  had  a  large  meeting  at  Sandy  Spring,  where  I  had  much 
to  say  in  tender  love.  I  was  under  deep  exercise  while  I  spoke. 
'I^he  meeting  ended  pretty  Avell  with  solemn  prayer  and  sujjplication. 
The  11th  we  had  a  small  meeting  at  Franklin,  and  it  Avas  a  pretty 
good  and  favored  time.  The  12th,  being  First-day,  Ave  had  a  large 
and  good  meeting  at  Augusta.  '^Fhe  poAver  of  truth  arose  in  do- 
minion over  a  lukewarm  and  forgetful  ]ieo]ile.  There  Avere  some 
sincere  ones  present,  and  these  Avere  much  encouraged  to  press  for- 


1823  -lOlltNAI.    Ol'    TIlOMAr-    A  K  N  KT'I'.  49 

ward  in  the  way  of  life  and  salvation.     The  meeting  coiieliuled  witli 
supplication.      'JMie    lOtii    we    rode   ul)out   twenty  miles   to    Cross 
Creek,  and  the  next  day  had  a  pretty  good  meeting  there.     The 
necessity  of   true    watchfulness  unto   prayer  was   brought   to    re- 
meml)rance.     The  meeting  ended  to  good  satisfaction.     The  loth 
we  had  a  large  and  heavenly  meeting   at    Hmithficld,  soon  after 
the  gathering  of  which  I  was  much  opened  in  the  power  and  doc- 
trines of  the  truth,  and  through  divine  ability  I  Avas  enabled  to 
divide  the  bread  of  life  according  to  the  states  of  the  people.     The 
16th   we  were  at   Short  Creek  Prejiarative   Meeting,  where  I  was 
drawn  to  address  the  youth  in  gosi)el  love.     I  was  also  favored  with 
prayer.     The   17th  we  had  a  good   open   meeting  at  Harrisville, 
Avhere  I  had  much  service  for  the  Lord.     Sinners  were  called  to  re- 
pentance and  self-denial,  a)id  the  sincere  were  edified   ami  much 
comforted.     Tlie  18th  we  had  a  small  meeting  at  Little  Vork.  and 
through  divine  goodness  it  was  made  a  i)retty  good  oi)portunity. 
The  I'.ith,  being  First-day.  we  had  a  large  and  favored  meeting  at 
West  ( Trove.     The  baptizing  power  of  trutii  was  present,  and  nniny 
were  brought  to  seriousness  and  tenderness.     The  meeting  ended 
to  good  satisfaction.     We,  this  afternoon,  had  a  good  and  favored 
meeting  at  the  court-house  in  the  city   of  Cadiz.     I   w'as    much 
opened  in  the  teachings  and  principles  of  the  truth.     I  thought 
some  good  was   done.     Praised  forever  be  the  name  of  him  wlio 
instructs,  preserves,   and  protects  the  meek  and  lowly  in  heart  ! 
The  20th,  we  had  a   pretty   good   meeting   at  Brushy  Fork.     The 
faithful  Avere  encouraged,  and  the  slothful  were  tenderly  and  affec- 
tionately admonished.     The  21st,   Ave  had  a  proving  meeting  at 
Freeport.     The  life  Avas  Ioav  at  this  place.    I  had  some  hard  and  close 
work  with  a  lukeAvarm  and  formal  people.     The  22d,  we  had  a  pre- 
cious and  good  meeting  at  Guer}isey.     I  was  largely  opened  in  the 
life  and  })ower  of  the  glorious  gospel.     Many  precious  and  good 
things  Avere  brought  to  remembrance.     Evei-y  class  was  spoken  to, 
with  that  searching  })ower  Avhicli   reaches  the  Avitness  for  truth. 
The  power  of  the  Ijord  Avas  over  all.     Blessed  forever  be  his  name  ! 
The  three  following  days  Ave  Avere  at  the    Monthly  Meetings  of 
Friends  as  they  came  in  course  at  Plainfield,  Flushing,   and  Still- 
water.    These  meetings  were  refreshing  seasons  from  the  Lord.     I 
had  much  good  service,  being  ojoencd  in  that  pure  love  Avhich  gives 
liberty  and  freedom,  and  fits  the  saints  for  use  in  the  church.    The 
2Gth    being    First-day,    Ave     were     at     the    public     meeting     of 
Friends  for  worship  at  Stillwater,  and  had  one  there  in  the  after- 
noon   for    the    youth.     These    meetings   were   large,    and   much 
favored  with  the  counsel  and  truths  of  the  gospel.     Many  Avere 
brought  to  tenderness  and  contrition.     The  poor  in  spirit  had  the 
gospel  livingly  and  savingly  preached  to  them,  and  the  high-minded 
were  entreated   to  abide  in  the  valley  of  humility,  and  "to  be  open 
a,nd  pliable  to  tlie  monitions  and  reproofs  of  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord. 


50  JOli^XAL    OF    TJIO-MAS    AltXETT.  IKS 

The  37th  we  were  at  Somerset  Monthly  Meeting,  and  tlirough 
the  Lord's  goodness  and  mercy,  this  meeting  was  made  a  refreshing 
and  heavenly  season.  The  sincere  hearted  were  enabled  to  sing  in 
their  spirits  the  song  of  deliverance,  and  the  remiss  were  awakened 
to  serions  reflection.  The  28th,  we  had  a  meeting  at  Feathei'wood, 
where  the  life  of  religion  was  low,  but  the  power  of  the  Lord  was 
over  a  lukewarm  and  unconcerned  people,  many  of  whom 
were  much  reached  and  convicted.  Adored  forever  be  his  holy 
name  I  We  this  afternoon  and  the  next  day  rode  to  Zanesville,  and  on 
the  30th  we  were  at  Friends'  week-day  meeting  in  that  town.  It 
was  a  small,  weak  meeting.  I  had  some  small  service  to  good  sat- 
isfaction. 

The  ;51st,  we  rode  about  thirty  miles  to  Deerfield,  and  on  the  1st 
of  the  11th  month  we  had  a  favored  meeting  there.  The  poAver 
of  the  Lord  was  felt,  and  I  Avas  drawn  to  speak  in  his  name  to  the 
tendering  and  humbling  of  many  minds.  The  meeting  closed 
with  solemn  prayer.  The  2d,  being  First-day,  we  had  a  good 
meeting  at  Meigs'  Creek,  and  the  Lord's  testimony  went  forth  to 
the  edifying  and  comfort  of  many  minds.  The  two  following- 
days  we  returned  to  Stillwater,  and  on  the  5tli  we  were  at  Fj-iends^ 
week-day  meeting  there,  and  it  was  a  comfortable  season.  We  had 
a  favored  meeting  this  afternoon  at  the  Eidge  meeting.  Many 
precious  and  tender  souls  were  much  edified  and  encouraged,  and 
the  remiss  were  reminded  of  their  duties.  The  meeting  solemnly 
concluded  with  prayer  and  supplication.  The  Gth,  we  had  a  very 
favored  meeting  at  Captena.  Soon  after  the  meeting  was  gathered, 
I  was  much  opened  in  gospel  love.  I  found  much  to  say.  Every 
state  I  thought  was  spoken  to.     Blessed  be  the  Lord  I 

The  ith.  I  was  deeply  and  awfully  impressed  this  morning.  I 
renewed  my  petition  to  the  everlasting  God,  and  prayed  liim  to  be 
with  me  always,  and  preserve  me  to  the  glory  and  honor  of  his 
great  and  adorable  name.  We  had  a  meeting  at  Goshen,  at  the 
usual  hour  of  Friends'  meeting,  for  all  classes,  and  one  in  the  after- 
noon for  the  youth.  These  meetings  were  seasons  of  consolation 
and  instruction.  They  were  large,  and  much  favored  with  the 
"VYord  and  doctrines  of  eternal  life.  The  Lord's  power  was  over  all, 
and  many  were  broken  into  tenderness  and  contrition.  I  thought 
some  good  was  done.  Every  class  Avas  spoken  to,  in  the  love  and 
power  of  the  gospel.  Praised  forever  Ije  the  name  of  him,  with 
whom  there  is  everlasting  strength  !  The  8th,  we  had  a  meeting 
at  Plainfield,  (where  Ave  had  been  at  Monthly  Meeting  before).  I 
was  under  deep  exercise  at  tliis  meeting,  being  sensible  that  the  life 
of  religion  was  low  at  this  ])lace,  and  that  many  Avho  Avere 
present  had  more  pride  than  humility.  My  spirit  mourned  and 
besought  the  Lord  to  have  mercy  on  us,  and  at  length  he  arose 
and  empowered  me,  I  believe,  to  place  the  burden  Avhere  it 
belonged,  so  that  I  came  away  much  relieved  in  my  OAvn  mind. 


1825  .JOriiXAI.    Ol'    THOMAS    A  l{  N  K'lT.  51 

l*niisi'(l  forever  be  his  name  I  Tlie  'Jth,  we  were  at  Friends'  First- 
day  meeting,  in  the  town  of  Saint  Clairsville,  and  had  a  meeting- 
there  in  the  afternoon  for  the  youth.  These  Averc  truly  trying  and 
exercising  meetings  to  me,  being  made  sensible  of  the  hardness  of 
the  hearts  of  many  who  were  present,  that  tliey  were  full  of  con- 
ceit, and  loved  the  riches  and  glory  of  this  world  more  than  the 
cross.  I  had  some  hard  labor  among  them,  adverted  to  their  defi- 
ciencies, and  left  them  with  a  degree  of  joy  and  consolation. 

The  10th,  we  had  a  glorious  and  good  meeting  at  Concord.  The 
invincible  power  of  the  everlasting  God  was  over  all.  I  felt  as 
though  I  had  been  raised  from  the  dead,  having  been  much  cast 
down  for  awhile  past,  but  now  that  eternal  power  which  can  shake 
the  heavens  and  the  earth,  arose  into  demonstration,  and  gave  me 
strength  and  utterance  to  open  several  important  doctrines,  every 
soul  appeared  to  be  hushed  into  a  degree  of  awfnlness  and  rever- 
ence, and  many  were  melted  into  tears  and  tenderness.  All  praise 
and  honor  be  ascribed  to  him  from  whom  proceeds  every  good  and 
perfect  gift  I  We,  this  afternoon  and  the  next  day,  rode  to  Con- 
naughton,  and  had  a  good,  favored  meeting  there,  on  the  I'^'th.  I 
was  enabled  through  divine  guidance  to  point  out  the  way  which 
leads  to  everlasting  peace.  The  peojile  Avere  open  to  receive  what 
Avas  said  Avitli  gratitude  and  humility.  The  meeting  ended  to  good 
satisfaction.  The  next  day  Ave  rode  to  tlie  toAvn  of  Mount  Pleas- 
ajit,  and  attended  the  select  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends  there  on 
the  14:th,  through  Avhicli  I  sat  in  suffering  silence.  The  15th, 
we  Avere  at  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends  for  Avorship 
and  discipline..  It  Avas  large  and  much  favored  Avith  tlie  help 
of  divine  gQodness.  I  had  some  good  service  for  the  Lord,  ^[any 
experienced  and  Avorthy  Friends  Avere  present,  and  I  tliought  there 
Avere  those  also  present  A\dio  loved  the  riches  of  this  Avorld  more 
than  those  of  eternity.  The  next  day  being  First-day,  Ave  Avere  at 
the  public  meeting  for  worship,  and  had  one  in  the  afternoon  for 
the  youth.  These  meetings  Avere  open,  favored  seasons.  The 
youth's  meeting  Avas  large,  and  a  glorious  good  meeting,  being 
much  favored  Avith  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel.  It  conchided  with 
solemn  prayer  and  supplication. 

The  ITth.  Having  visited  most  of  the  meetings  of  Friends  in 
the  State  of  Ohio,  we  this  day  rode  to  the  neighborhood  of  Friends 
on  the  head  of  Wheeling,  in  the  western  part  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  had  a  good,  open  meeting  there  the  next  day.  I  was  favored, 
in  the  opening  of  divine  love,  to  speak  to  the  people  according  to 
their  states  and  conditions.  The  lUth,  Ave  rode  about  twenty  miles 
to  Pike  Kun,  and  had  meeting  there  the  next  day,  AA'here  I  was 
much  cast  down  for  awhile,  but  at  length  truth  arose  in  dominion 
over  a  loose,  lukeA\arm  spirit.  The  faithful  Avere  encouraged  and 
much  comforted,  aiid  the  disobedient  Avere  re])roved.  We  this 
afternoon  had   a  meeting  at   Westland,  Avhere  I  had  some  small 


o2  JOUKXAL    OF   THOMAS    ARXETT.  1823 

service,  but  obtained  no  relief,  my  mind  being  borne  down  under 
deep  exercise.  Tlie  21st  we  had  a  small  and  trying  meeting  at 
]\ruddy  Creek.  The  pure  life  was  low  and  weak  at  this  place.  Truth's 
searching  power  pointed  out  things  just  as  they  were,  so  that  the 
meeting  ended  pretty  Avell.  The  22d,  we  had  another  meeting  at 
Westland,  for  the  youth  and  others.  It  was  large,  and  through 
divine  goodness  I  was  enabled  to  clear  my  mind  to  good  satisfac- 
tion. The  Lord's  power  prevailed  over  a  careless  and  disobedient 
people.  The  meeting  ended  with  sujDplication.  The  next  day 
being  First-day,  we  were  at  the  meeting  of  Friends  for  worship  at 
Eedstone,  and  had  one  there  in  the  afternoon  for  the  youth. 
These  meetings  were  seasons  of  much  divine  favor.  Truth  tri- 
umjihcd  over  all.  I  was  much  opened  in  the  light  and  doctrines  of 
the  gospel,  to  the  edification  and  warning  of  many.  The  24th, 
we  had  a  pretty  good  meeting  at  Center.  I  was  favored  to  address 
the  people  according  to  their  states  and  conditions. 

The  25th,  we  were  at  Providence  Monthly  Meeting,  where  I  found 
some  good  service  for  the  Lord :  and  the  next  day  we  had  a  large 
public  meeting  there,  and  it  was  a  veiy  solemn  time.  The  light 
and  i^ower  of  faith  triumphed  over  all.  I  was  largely  opened  in  the 
love  and  doctrines  of  the  gospel.  The  folloAvers  of  Christ  were 
encouraged,  and  sinners  were  reminded  of  their  disobedience,  and 
invited  to  turn  from  the  evil  of  their  doings  and  serve  their  Creator 
with  sincerity  and  uprightness.  The  27th,  Ave  had  meeting  at 
Sewickby,  at  the  usual  hour  of  Friends'  meeting,  and  one  in  the 
afternoon  for  the  youth  ;  and  through  divine  favor,  these  meetings 
were  made  heavenly  and  edifying  seasons.  The  power  of  truth  was 
over  all.  The  principles  of  pure  religion  were  exi)]aiined  to  the 
people,  many  of  whom  were  reached  and  much  tendered.  Blessed 
be  the  name  of  God  I  Wc,  the  next  day,  returned  to  Redstone ; 
and  on  the  29th  I  parted  with  my  dear  friend  and  sympathizing 
companion,  Jesse  Faulkner,  he  feeling  easy  now  to  return  home- 
ward. It  was  a  great  trial  for  us  to  part,  having  traveled  together 
in  true  gospel  love,  and  in  the  unity  of  the  spirit;  being  united 
while  we  were  together  in  that  tender  and  true  love  which  is  the 
bond  of  peace,  and  the  source  of  all  durable  consolation.  We  took 
a  heart-melting  farewell  of  each  other,  with  prayers  in  our  hearts 
to  the  Lord  for  our  preservation  and  faithfulness  while  traveling 
through  time  to  the  awful  confines  of  eternity.  I,  this  evening, 
was  mucii  cast  down;  I  felt  solitary  and  discouraged:  my  spirit  was 
much  engaged  in  prayer  to  the  Lord  for  his  i)rotection  and  guid- 
ance during  the  remaining  part  of  this  great  journey. 

The  30tli,  being  First-day,  I  had  a  large  and  good  meeting  at 
Sandy  Hill.  I  was  much  favored  to  point  out  things  according  to 
the  states  and  conditions  of  the  people:  truth  had  the  ascendency 
over  them.  T,  this  evening,  had  a  pretty  good  meeting  by  early 
candle  light,  at  the  school-house  in  Uniontown;  it  was  large,  the 


182;?  JOUHXAL    OF   THOMAS    A  i;^\  KTT.  53 

room  where  it  was  held  being  spacious,  and  it  was  mucli  favored 
with  tlie  doctrines  and  truths  of  the  gospel.  Tiie  meeting  ended 
to  good  satisfaction  with  prayer  and  supplication.  Magnified  be  the 
adorable  name  of  Clod  now  and  forever  I 

12th  month,  1st.  I  had  a  satisfactory  and  open  opportunity  this 
morning  with  the  students  of  Tnion  Academy;  I  felt  interested  for 
their  religious  improvement,  and  recommended  tliem  to  him  who 
alone  is  able  to  teach  the  soul  the  things  which  pert.iin  to  everlast- 
ing life  and  salvation.  [  also  this  day  visited  divers  families,  rather 
in  a  way  of  innocent  sociability,  to  take  my  leave  of  them.  Tlie 
2d,  I  returned  to  Eedstone,  and  the  next  day  I  was  at  the  Monthly 
Meeting  of  Friends  there,  where  I  had  good  service  for  the  Lord. 
Blessed  be  his  holy  name  !  The  4th,  I  felt  very  poor,  and  was 
much  discouraged  in  my  spirit;  I  besought  the  everlasting  (lod  ever 
to  preserve  me  from  the  wiles  and  temptations  of  Satan.  I  rode  to 
Uniontown.  and  the  next  day  in  company  with  some  friends  I  rode 
to  the  vicinity  of  Friends  of  Sandy  Creek.  The  Gth,  I  rested  at  a 
Frieuds'  house,  and  the  next  day,  being  First-day,  I  was  at  Friends' 
meeting  for  worship  there;  and  I  was  much  opened  in  the  love  of 
the  spirit  to  declare  the  glad  tidings  of  the  gospel.  The  meeting 
ended  with  solemn  prayer  and  su])plication. 

Tiie  7th.  having  visited  the  meetings  that  constitute  the  Ohio 
Yearly  Meeting,  I  found  my  mind  quite  clear  and  easy  to  return 
homeward,  believing  I  had  faithfully  finished  the  service  which  the 
Lord  required  of  me  in  this  journey.  The  prospect  of  traveling 
home  by  myself  was  somewhat  discourging,  but  it  was  manifested 
to  my  mind  that-  he  who  had  sent  me  out  Avould  preserve  and  pro- 
tect me  on  my  way  home  if  faith  and  sincerity  should  be  abode  in; 
I  therefore,  this  morning,  took  a  hearty  farewell  of  some  dear 
Friends  of  Sandy  Creek,  and  turned  my  face  homeward;  and  after 
passing  through  a  solitary  journey,  sometimes  riding  in  the  rain, 
snow  and  high  winds,  it  being  very  cold  most  of  the  way,  I  arriA^ed 
home  on  the  20th,  with  the  reward  of  i)eace  of  mind.  "  Magnified 
forever  be  his  holy  and  adorable  name!  For  with  him  there  is  ever- 
lasting strength;  and  those  wlio  serve  him  aright  shall  witness  the 
preservation  and  protection  of  this  strength. 

My  dear  friends  appeared  to  be  very  glad  of  my  safe  return  to 
them  again,  and  I  also  was  glad  again  to  be  favored  with  their 
company. 

I  was  out  on  this  exercising  journey  seven  months  and  about 
twenty-five  days,  and  traveled,  by  comjiutation,  about  three  thous- 
and three  hundred  and  fifty  miles. 

After  I  arrived  home  for  awhile,  my  heart  was  (illcd  with  grati- 
tude to  God  for  liis  kind  providence  and  sure  protection  toward  me 
in  the  foregoing  journey,  believing  that  the  angel  of  his  presence 
went  before  me,  pointing  out  my  way  from  day  to  day.  Blessed 
forever  be  his  holv  name  I 


5j.  .lOLIJSAL    OF    TJIOMAS    AKXKTI'.  1821 

In  the  second  month,  1S:U,  with  tlic  approbation  of  Friends  of 
our  Monthl}'  Meeting,  1  visited,  in  gosjiel  love,  a  number  of  neigh- 
borino-  meetings  among  Friends.  Most  of  tliese  meetings  were  very 
laroe,  being  public  appointed  meetings  for  worship  for  all  classes  of 
people,  and  being  attended  by  many  sorts ;  and  they  were  seasons 
of  much  divine  favor ;  the  light  and  power  of  truth  triumphed 
over  darkness,  pride  and  high-mindedness  ;  the  sincere  followers  of 
the  Lamb  were  edified  and  strengthened  in  the  Christian  warfare  ; 
and  the  disobedient  were  solemnly  warned  of  their  a])i>roaching 
danger,  without  sincere  repentance  and  sielf-denial  unto  life  and 
salvation. 

I,  also,  in  this  month,  in  company  with  a  respectable  Friend  of 
our  Monthly  Meeting,  visited  in  love  of  truth  most  of  the  families 
of  Holly  Springs  Monthly  Meeting,  in  Kandoljjh  county.  We 
visited  upwards  ot  fifty  families,  and  had  much  good  service  for  the 
Lord  therein,  being  favored  with  divine  help  to  break  the  bread  of 
life  and  salvation  from  house  to  house  with  gratitude  and  singleness 
of  heart :  the  slothful  and  lukewarm  Avere  reproved  in  the  life  and 
power  of  faith,  and  the  faithful  were  much  edified  and  encouraged 
in  things  which  pertain  to  everlasting  life  and  salvation. 

In  these  days  I  renewedly  travailed  and  sympathized  in  my  spirit 
with  those  who  groan  both  day  and  night  under  cruel  opjn-ession  ; 
I  also  prayed  heaven  to  have  mercy  on  their  hard-hearted  o])pres- 
sors ;  and  while  thus  influenced,  I  conceived  that  desolation  over- 
•spread  this  country,  on  account  of  this  great  evil  and  wickedness. 

My  mind  having  been  dniwn,  for  some  time  past,  to  pay  a  relig- 
ious visit  to  Friends  of  the  Virginia  Yearly  Meeting,  and  to  Friends 
in  the  eastern  part  of  this  State,  I  seasonably  o]KMied  this  prospect 
to  Friends  of  our  Monthly  and  Quarterly  Meeting,  and  obtained 
their  certificate  of  unity  and  concurrence.  My  Avorthy  friend, 
George  Swain,  of  New  Garden  Monthly  Meeting,  a  man  of  good 
sense  and  learning,  and  one  who  attained  much  knowledge,  both 
human  and  inspired,  found  a  concern  upon  his  mind  to  accomi^any 
me.  He  obtained  a  certificate  of  concurrence  of  his  friends  for 
this  purpose.  I  put  thingsMn  order  for  the  journey  ;  visited  some 
neighboring  meetings  of  Friends,  and  had  some  public  meetings  in 
Stokes  County,  among  those  not  of  our  society,  Avhich  were  at- 
tended by  many  sorts  of  people,  and  which  Avcre  large,  and  much 
favored  with  the  counsel  and  doctrines  of  the  everlasting  gospel. 

A  while  before  I  started,  I  had  a  farewell  meeting  at  our  meeting 
house,  and  it  Avas  truly  a  heart-tendering  time,  being  favored  with 
the  instructions  and  doctrines  of  the  everlasting  truth.  Blessed  for- 
ever be  the  name  of  Lord  I 

I  set  forAvard  on  the  journey  in  company  with  my  dear  friend, 
George  Swain,  the  5th  day  of  the  5th  month,  l.S-^4,  and  rode  about 
tAventy  miles,  nnd  had  a  small  meeting  in  the  afternoon,  at  a  tavern 
in  the  county  of  Rockingham,  to  pretty  good  satisfaction.     I  had 


1824  JOTHXAL    Ol'    THOMAS    AUN'KTT.  00 

some  good  service,  which  seemed  well  received  by  the  people.  The 
6th  we  set  forward  for  the  neighborhood  of  Friends  of  South  River, 
where  we  arrived  on  the  8th,  in  the  morning  ;  and  this  being  Friends' 
Monthly  Meeting  day  there,  we  were  at  it,  and  found  it  to  be  a 
very  small'  ^[onthly  Meeting  ;  I  was  silent  under  deep  discourage- 
ment  of  mind.  I  was  this  (hiy  brought  very  low  :  my  drooping  soul 
prayed  the  everlasting  God  to  ])reserve  and  protect  me  throug-hthis 
Journey,  to  the  glory  and  praise  of  his  adorable  name.  The  9th  be- 
ing First-day,  we  were  at  Friends'  meeting  for  worship,  at  South 
River,  where  I  was  drawn  to  bear  a  very  solemn  testimony  to  good 
satisfaction.  We,  this  afternoon,  had  a  meeting  at  the  Methodist 
*  meeting-house,  in  Lynchburg.  It  was  large  and  much  favored.  I 
was  drawn  to  declare  the  Lord's  goodness  and  gracious  dealings. 
Those  who  hungered  after  righteousness  were  filled,  and  sinners 
were  called  to  repentence.  The  meeting  ended  to  satisfaction. 
Blessed  forever  be  the  nameof  the  gi-eat  and  merciful  Creator  I  The 
10th.  Many  exercises  came  upon  me  this  day.  I  was  patient  un- 
der them,  trusting  in  him  who  brought  them  upon  me.  We  vis- 
ited divers  families  of  Friends,  rather  in  a  sociable  way.  to  take  our 
leave  of  them.  The  11th.  We  set  forward  this  morning  for  Grav- 
elly Run,  to  attend  the  ensuing  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends,  where 
we  arrived,  after  passing  through  a  trying,  discouraging  journey,  in 
time  to  attend  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends  tliere  for  worship 
and  discipline  the  14th,  Avhere  I  had  some  good  service  for  the 
Lord.  Blessed  forever  be  his  name  I  The  151-11  began  the  Select 
Yearly  Meeting.  It  was,  J  thought,  a  pretty  good  meeting  for  some 
dear  friends.  But  I  was  silent  under  very  deep  discouragement.  I 
I  was  very  much  cast  down.  •  I  felt  very  disconsohite,  Aveak,  and 
exceedingly  solitary.  The  next  day,  being  First-day,  the  public 
meeting  for  worship  was  very  large,  being  attended  by  many  sorts 
of  people  ;  many  of  whom  were  very  restless  and  unsettled.  I  was 
sealed  up  in  silence  ;  some  other  friends  exercised  in  the  ministry 
had  some  good  service.  We,  this  afternoon,  had  a  meeting  for  the 
youth,  and  it  was  truly  a  A'ery  trying,  low  time.  I  had  some  small 
service,  but  obtained  no  relief.  0  Lord,  when  Avilt  thou  arise  for 
me,  and  set  me  as  an  eagle's  wings,  and  send  me  forth  in  the  spirit 
and  ])ower  of  thy  strength  ?  I  am  much  cast  down,  and  without 
thee  I  cannot  go  fortli  to  glorify  thy  name,  and  tell  my  fellow 
creatures  of  thy  wonders  and  great  goodness.  Search  me,  and  try 
me,  and  refine  me  from  everything  which  thy  love  disapproves,  and 
thy  will  and  not  mine  be  done.  The  17th,  after  a  meeting  for 
worship  was  held,  Avherein  1  had  some  good  service,  came  on  the 
business  of  society.  It  continued  )jy  adjournment  three  days,  and 
though  it  was  a  low  and  trying  time  to  me  througli  the  sitting 
thereof,  being  much  closed  up  in  silence,  yet  divers  others  exercised 
in  the  ministry,  on  a  religious  visit  to  these  parts,  had  much  good 
service  for  the  Lord,  so  that  Friends  were  enabled,   through  divine 


56  JOl'HXAL    OF    THOMAS    ARXETT.  1824 

goodness,  to  consider  uiid  transact  the  business  which  came  l)efore 
them  to  pretty  good  satisfaction.  This  Yearly  Meeting  was  small. 
It  was  a  time  of  much  exercise  to  a  number  of  Friends,  on  account 
of  existing  deficiencies  among  them.  It  solemly  concluded  under 
the  effusions  of  that  pure  love  Avhich,  out  of  weakness,  makes 
strong,  and  fits  for  service  in  the  church.  Blessed  forever  be  the 
name  of  the  Lord  I 

The  20th  and  21st,  Ave  rode  upwards  of  seventy  miles  to  the  vi- 
cinity of  Friends  of  Caroline,  and  had  a  pretty  good  open  meet- 
ing there  the  22d.  I  was  enabled  to  declare  the  Lord's  testimony 
with  power  and  authority,  and  thought  some  good  was  done.  The 
next  day  we  were  at  the  First-day  meeting  of  Friends,  at  Cedar  ■ 
Creek.  It  was  very  small  and  weak.  I  was  favored  with  a  small 
testimony  to  good  satisfaction.  I  had  much  sympathy  with  the  few 
sincere  and  faithful  ones  of  this  place,  being  made  sensible  of  their 
discouraged  and  solitary  situation,  on  account  of  the  decline  of 
simplicity  and  ui)rightness  apparent  in  this  vicinity.  The  24:th,  we 
had  a  highly  favored  meeting  atGenits  ;  the  Lord^s  testimony  pow- 
erfully went  forth,  to  the  reaching  of  the  witness  for  truth  in  the 
minds  of  the  people  ;  in  many  of  whorn  the  evil  was  chained  down, 
and  the  good  seed  i-efreshed  with  the  sprinkling  of  living  water 
from  the  fountain  of  all  good.  The  2")th,  we  rode  to  Richmond, 
and  the  next  day  we  were  at  Friend's  week-day  meeting  there.  It 
was  very  small  and  weak  as  it  respects  the  life  and  power  of  pure 
religion.  I  was  drawn  to  bear  a  small  testimony,  tending  to  remind 
Friends  of  the  value  of  inward  retirement  when  we  approach  the 
throne  of  grace  for  the  pur|iose  of  divine  worship.  We,  this  after- 
noon and  the  next  day,  traveled  by  the  way  of  Wayne  Oak  to 
Skemiuo,  Avhere  we  had  a  small  meeting  the  28th.  I,  with  iiard 
Avork  and  under  much  exercise,  bore  a  small  testimony,  being  sen- 
sible that  though  the  people  Avere  moral,  yet  some  of  them  posses- 
sed not  the  life  and  poAver  of  pure  religion.  I  cleared  myself  of 
them,  and  left  them  with  some  sorrow.  I  passed  tiirough  dee[)  ex- 
ercises that  day.  0,  my  God,  make  of  me  wiiatever  seems  good  to 
thy  sight,  andinstruct  me  from  time  to  time  in  things  Avhich  per- 
tain to  eternal  life  and  salvation.  We,  this  afternoon,  returned  to 
Wayne  Oak,  and  had  a  good  open  meeting  there.  The  next  day 
the  Lord's  power  was  present,  under  the  divine  influence  of  which 
many  were  filled  with  tender  and  humilitating  sensations.  After 
meeting  we  returned  to  Richmond,  and  the  next  being  First-day^ 
Ave  had  a  public  meeting  there  at  Friends'  meeting  house;  and  I 
Avas  muck  ojiened  in  the  spirit  and  power  of  the  ever  glorious  gos- 
pel of  Jesus  Christ  ;  I  was  also  drawn  to  ajjproach  the  throne  of 
grace,  and  pour  out  my  soul  in  ])rayer  and  sup[)lication  ;  the  meet- 
ing ended  to  good  satisfaction.  The  olst,  we  took  leave  of  Friends 
of  the  city  of  Richmond,  and  rode  upwards  of  thirty  miles  to  the 
vicinity  of  Frieiuls  of  ^lerchant's   Hope,    where    we   had   a   small 


1824  .JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AllNETT.  57 

meeting  the  first  of  the  Sixth  month,  and  it  whs  a  very  low  time  ; 
the  pure  life  was  weak  ;  I  had  some  small  service,  but  obt:iined  no 
relief.  0,  my  gracious  God,  sanctify,  I  beseech  thee,  all  the  afflic- 
tions of  my  dro"o})ing  soul!  I  have  met  Avith  many,  very  many  deep 
probations  since  I  turned  from  darkness  to  light,  to  walk  in  the 
Avay  of  regeneration  and  self-denial  ;  I  have  experienced  many 
heights  and  depths  ;  I  have  passed  through  many  vicissitudes ;  I 
have  often  been  brought  low  and  raised  up  ;  cause,  I  beseech  thee, 
all  things  to  work  together  for  my  good,  and  ever  head  me  in  the 
path  of  duty  and  righteousness  in  all  my  goings  through  time. 

The  2nd,  we  had  a  good  and  precious  meeting  at  Burleigh.  The 
states  of  the  people  were  spoken  to  according  to  the  paintings  of 
truth.  I  had  much  good  service  to  the  peace  of  my  own  mind, 
and  to  the  satisfaction  and  edification  of  my  friends.  Blessed  be  the 
Lord  I  We  this  afternoon  rode  upwards  of  twenty  miles  through  the 
rain  to  the  neighborhood  of  Friends  of  Stanton's,  and  the  next  day 
we  had  a  small  meeting  there,  where  I  labored  a  little  in  the  min- 
istry to  pretty  good  satisfaction.  I  truly  sympatliize  with  the  few 
Friends  of  this  place,  believing  thi-y  often  feel  cast  down  and  dis- 
couraged on  account  of  their  small  number  ;  but  where  two  or  three 
are  gathered  together  in  the  Father's  name,  He  will  be  in  the  midst 
of  tbem.  The  4th,  we  had  a  small  meeting  at  Blackwater,  where 
I  also  sympathized  with  the  few  Friends  of  this  meeting,  their  meet- 
ing being  very  small  I  was  drawn  in  gospel  love  to  encourage  them 
inl;he  way. of  sincerity  and  righteousness.  We  this  afternoon  rode 
about  fifteen  miles  to  the  vicinity  of  Friends  of  Black  Creek,  and 
the  next  day  we  tarried  at  a  Friend's  house.  I  spent  most  of  this 
day  in  writing  ;  my  mind  being  replete  with  a  measure  of  that  ])uro 
love  which  administers  instructions  to  the  devoted  disciples  of 
Heaven.  The  Gth,  and  First-day  of  the  week.  Oh !  the  darkness 
which  filled  my  mind  this  morning.  All  consolation,  both  human 
and  divine,  left  me  ;  deep  suffering  and  pain  came  upon  my  droop- 
ing soul.  I  wished  to  be  delivered  from  this  deep  probation ;  1 
thought  of  the  song  of  Sion  which  I  had  often  sung  to  the  meek 
and  lowly  in  heart,  and  I  desired  to  sing  this  song  this  morning, 
and  to  be  mounted  on  eagle's  wings,  to  declare  of  the  Lord's  ways 
and  goodness,  but  I  thought  the  following  language  was  spoken  in 
the  ear  of  my  spirit  :  "Be  still,  liow  cans't  thou  expect  to  be  fa- 
vored to  sing  the  new  song  continually,  when  thousands  of  thou- 
sands of  thy  fellow-travelers  are  in  cjiptivity,  under  deej)  oppression 
and  affliction?  be  patient,  and  sympathize  with  them  in  their  sor- 
rows and  deep  sufferings,  for  there  is  a  day  approaching  which  will 
try  all  who  live  in  ease ;  all  who  arc  unfeeling  of  the  woes  of  their 
fellow  creatures."  I  reverently  obeyed  the  injunction,  and  deeply 
sympathized  with  the  oppressed,  and  prayed  the  Almighty  to  have 
mercy  on  the  cruel,  proud,  and  high-minded  oppressors.  We  this 
day  had  a  good  open  meeting  at  Black  Ci-eek  :  it  was  large  and 


58  JOURXAL   OF   THOMAS    AHXKTT.  1824 

highly  favored  with  the  doctrines  of  truth.     Light,  divine   light, 
arose,  and  dispelled  all  darkness  from  my  mind.     I  felt  like  a  new 
creature,  being  immediately  delivered  from  deej)  trials  and  enabled 
to  declare  the  eternal  gospel  to  my  fellow  creatures  with  life  and 
power.    I  had  some  close  labor  with  slave-holders,  many  of  them 
being  present,  and  some  of  them  seemed  affected  and  moved  with 
tender   compassion   for  their  oppressed  fellow   travelers.     I  hope 
some  good  was  done.     The  meeting  reverently  ended  with  prayer. 
Blessed  forever  be  the  Lord  I    The  7th.     I  felt  very  poor  and  solitary 
this  morning ;  I  prayed  the  L(n-d  to  preserve  me  in  all  my  goings, 
in  the  way  o^f  well  doing,     ^\e  had  a  pretty  good  meeting  at  Vicks' 
Meeting.     It  was  large  and  favored  with  the  reproving  power  of 
trutli.   The  sincere  were  encouraged  and  instructed  in  the  way  of  life 
and  peace,  and  the  insincere  were  much  reproved.     Every  class  of 
thought  was  spoken  to,  in  the  power  of  truth.     The  8th,  we  had  a 
Heavenly  meeting  at  Johnson's  Meeting.     Truth's  doctrines  emi- 
nently went  forth  to  the  gathering  of  the  people  to  the  witness  for 
truth  in  them.   Every  state  was  spoken  to,  and  I  thought  every  in- 
dividual felt  the  etfect  of  that  power  which  reproves  for  sin,  and 
gives  place  to  well  doing.     The  meeting  closed  with  solemn  prayer. 
The  Otli.    I  was  much  cast  down  this  morniiig,   being  destitute  of 
the  sui)])orting  power  of   Heaven.     Oh  I  liow  I  desired  to  be  pre- 
served in  all  my  doings,  to  the  glory  and  praise  of  the  great  Creator. 
We  had  a  meeting  at  the  Western"^  branch,  and  out  of  weakness  I 
was  made  strong.     I  began  to  speak  Avith  a  small  opening,  and  with 
a  small  degree  of  divine  life  ;  but  by  keeping  the  eye  single,  and 
speaking  very  delil)erately,  I  was  gradually  opened,  and  largely  led 
out  into  the  doctrines  of  "the  gospel,  to  the  edificatio]i  of  the  well  in- 
clined, and  to  the  warning  and  admonishing   of  sue!)  as  procrasti- 
nated the  improvement  of  their  minds.    Tlie  10th.    I  was  cast  down: 
povertv  of  spirit  clothed  me;  my  soul  reverently  bowed,  and  sup- 
plicated the  throne  of  grace  for  protection  and  preservation.     "We 
had  a  meeting  at  8omcrton,  where  I  was  much  proved  and  exercised 
in  the  fore  part,  but  the  latter  part  was  much  favored  with  the 
doctrines  and  instructions  of   the  everlasting  truth.     I  was  much 
opened  in  the  gos])el,  and  utterance  was  given  to  declare  the  way 
of  salvation.     In  the  latter  part  of  my  testimony  I  Avas  drawn  to 
speak  to  the  poor  black  ])eo])le,  (many  of  them  being  present,)  and 
they  seemed  truly  and  affectionately  thankful  for  the  favor  bestowed 
on  them  in  this  meeting,  and  some  of  them  were  broken  into  ten- 
derness.    Praised  forever  be  the  name  of  the  T^ord  I 

In  traveling  from  place  to  place  in  this  country  I  saw  much  pride, 
naughtiness  and  oppression,  on  account  of  which  I  often  mourned 
in  my  spirit  both  day  anduiglit ;  being  sensilile  of  the  dreadful  sit- 
uation of  the  wicked  when  they  are  launched  into  the  awful  con- 
fines of  eternity.  I  found  most  of  the  meetings  of  Friends  to  be 
small,  but  many  were  present  when  I  was  at  them  Avho  were  not  in 


1S2J  JOIKXAI-    OF    TIIO.MAS    AUNK'l"!".  59 

religious  profession  with  us;  most  of  them  being  pul)]ic  uppointed 
meetings.  Some  of  these  people  were  tender  mid  ojien  to  receive 
good,  but  others  of  them  Avcre  so  full  of  the  ])erishing  tilings  of 
this  world  that  there  was  but  little  room  in  them  for  anything  of  a 
serious  and  virtuous  nature.  I  often  remembered  that  the  great 
law-giver,  when  he  was  in  tlie  prepared  body,  did  not  many  mighty 
works  in  some  ])laces,  because  of  their  unbelief;  and  the  ti'uth  of 
this  was  verified  in  my  travels  in  this  land  of  cruel  oppression,  for 
I  was  often  made  sensible  that  unbelief  and  hardness  of  heart  shut 
out  the  gospel,  or  prevented  a  free  entrance  thereof  in  the  minds 
of  many  whoui  I  saw  at  a  number  of  the  foj'egoing  meetings;  and 
a  sense  of  their  lost  and  undone  condition  forever,  without  true  and 
sincere  repentance  unto  life  and  salvation,  often  affected  me  with 
sorrow  and  grief.  I  truly  sym])athized  with  the  few  sincere  and 
faithful  whom  I  found  scattered  abroad  in  this  land  of  darkness  and 
cruel  oppression  ;  being  sensible  that  they  were  surrounded  by  those 
who  procrastinate  from  day  to  day  the  religious  im]irovement  of 
their  minds  ;  I  encouraged  them  to  hold  fast  their  integrity  and 
patiently  to  be  subject  to  all  the  directions  and  dispensations  of 
heaven. 

The  nth.  Having  visited  the  meetings  which  constitute  the  Vir- 
ginia Yearly  Meetings,  and  feeling  clear  of  these  parts,  we  this 
morning  took  a  farewell  leave  of  some  dear  friends  and  rode  up- 
wards of  thirty  miles  to  the  vicinity  of  Friends  of  Sutton's  Creek, 
in  the  eastern  jiart  of  North  Carolina,  and  the  next  day  we  were  at 
the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends  there,  and  on  the  13th,  being 
First-day,  we  also  had  a  public  meeting  for  worship  there  ;  in  both 
of  these  meetings  I  found  much  good  service  for  the  Lord.  The 
states  of  the  people  were  brought  to  remembrance  and  spoken  to  in 
the  spirit  and  ]iower  of  the  ever-blessed  gospel.  The  three  follow- 
ing days  Ave  had  meetings  at  Wellses,  Beach  Springs,  and  Little 
River.  These  meetings  were  seasons  of  divine  favor,  the  Lord  was 
with  me  and  enabled  m^e  to  declare  his  word  availingly.  Blessed 
forever  be  his  holy  name  I 

The  17th.  Deep  exercise  came  u])on  me  this  morning,  my  spirit 
reverently  bowed  and  implored  the  Shepherd  of  my  soul  to  lead  me 
aright  in  all  my  goings  through  this  journey.  We  liad  a  good  open 
meeting  at  the  Narrows :  there  seemed  to  be  no  lack  of  openings 
and  utterance,  the  gospel  flowed  freely  without  any  obstruction, 
the  minds  of  the  people  being  open,  teachable  and  pliable  ;  the 
meeting  ended  with  ])rayer.  AVe,  this  afternoon,  had  a  meeting  at 
Pesquetank  Court  House,  where  I  was  much  favored  with  the  s])irit 
of  supplication.  I  was  also  enabled  to  declare  the  way  of  salvation 
and  righteousness  with  authority.  The  meeting  ended  to  satisfac- 
tion. The  18th,  we  had  a  meeting  at  Newbegun  Creek,  Avhere  I 
had  some  service  under  deep  exercise  to  pretty  good  satisfaction. 
The  meeting  ended  well. 


00  JOURXAL    OF   THOMAS    ARXETT.  1824 

The  lOtb.  This  was  an  awful  day  with  me.  I  was  tliis  morning 
led  in  the  visions  of  the  Lord,  my  understanding  was  opened  to 
conceive  liis  divinity,  majesty  and  holiness,  and  under  a  sense  of 
his  divine  attributes,  a  desire  was  renewed  in  me  to  he  redeemed 
from  everything  which  his  word  disa|)i)roves.  We  were  at  Symons' 
Creek  Monthly  Meeting,  and  through  divine  goodness  it  was  made 
a  heavenly,  edifying  season.  The  power  of  an  endless  life  Avas 
over  all :  it  was  a  lieart-tendering  time  ;  many  precious  and  heaven- 
born  souls  felt  the  effusions  of  that  pure  love  whicli  i)asseth  knowl- 
edge, and  the  comfort  of  which  surpasses  all  human  consolation  ; 
and  under  the  influence  of  this  precious  love.  Friends  were  enabled 
to  transact  their  business  in  harmony  and  condescension.  The  30th, 
Ave  had  a  heavenly  and  precious  meeting  at  Piney  Woods  ;  the  Lord's 
testimony  eminently,  availingly  and  convincingly  went  forth  to  the 
edification  and  comfort  of  the  sincere  and  faithful,  and  to  the 
awakening  of  tliose  who  slept  in  their  sins  and  iniquities.  My  un- 
derstaiiding  was  opened,  and  my  heart  Avas  enlarged  in  gospel  love. 
Every  individual  was  spoken  to  in  that  searching  poAver  which  puts 
doAvn  the  mighty  from  their  seats  and  raises  them  of  Ioav  degree. 
Blessed  forever  be  the  glorious  name  of  him  Avho  preserves  the  little 
ones  iu  all  their  dispensations,  am\  Avho  scatters  the  proud  and  lofty 
in  their  vain  imaginations  ! 

The  two  following  days  Ave  rode  upAvard  of  fifty  miles  to  Rich 
Square,  and  on  the  23d  we  rode  upAvard  of  tAventy  miles  to  Jack 
Swamp,  and  attended  the  AA^eek-day  meeting  of  Friends  there, 
Avhich  Avas  small.  I  had  a  little  service,  to  good  satisfaction.  The 
next  day  Ave  had  a  public  appointed  meeting  there,  and  it  Avas  a 
solemn  time.  I  had  much  good  service  for  the  Lord.  Blessed  for- 
ever be  his  holy  name  I  After  meeting,  Ave  returned  to  Hich  Square, 
and  the  following  day  Ave  had  a  good  meeting  tliere.  It  Avas  a  ten- 
dering season  ;  utterance  Avas  given,  and  the  gospel  freely  flowed 
forth  to  our  comfort  and  edification.  After  meeting,  Ave  set  out  for 
Edenton,  Avhere  Ave  arriA'ed  on  the  27th.  In  the  morning,  being 
First-day,  and  in  the  afternoon,  Ave  liad  a  meeting  at  the  Baptist 
meeting-house  for  the  inhabitants  of  this  town.  It  Avas  large,  and 
much  favored  with  the  truths  of  the  gospel.  The  people  appeared 
to  be  free  and  open  to  receive  the  instructions  of  the  ever-l)lessed 
truth.  The  meeting  ended  Avell  Avith  solemn  prayer  and  supplica- 
tion.    I51essed  be  the  Lord  I 

The  2Sth.  We  set  out  this  morning  for  the  town  of  Washing- 
ton, on  Tar  River,  Avhere  Ave  arrived  the  next  day,  and  had  a  good 
meeting  there  in  the  evening  by  early  candle-light  at  the  Methodist 
meeting-house.  The  love  of  God  Avas  shed  abroad  among  us,  and 
united  us  in  tender  sym])athy  and  affection.  I  had  good  service. 
The  peojile  Avere  kind,  and  manifested  thankfulness  for  the  o])i)or- 
tunity.  The  meeting  closed  with  sup])li('ation.  A  respcctal)le 
Methodist  family  entertained  us  Avith  the  utmost  kindness  and 
courtesv.     'IMic  I^ord  bless  them  forever  ! 


1824  JOIRNAL    OF    THOMAS    AKXET'I".  61 

On  the  first  of  these  tliree  diiys  was  tlie  warmest  weather  I  ever 
witnessed,  which  terminated  in  tlie  afternoon  with  tlie  awfulest 
storm  I  ever  saw  on  land,  wliich  met  ns  in  the  road  al)out  three 
miles  from  any  house,  among  the  lofty  pine  timber,  and  continued 
about  ten  minutes,  during  which  time  the  lightning  was  striking 
the  trees  around  us,  with  awful  thunder  rolling  through  the  air  ; 
the  wind  also  blowing  down  the  trees  around  us,  and  the  rain  and 
hail-stoues  pouring  down  upon  us  in  torrents.  While  this  storm 
continued  we  were  dismounted,  and  stood  still  in  the  road,  per- 
fectly resigned  to  the  divine  will,  not  knowing  what  moment  we 
Avould  have  to  go  into  eternity,  our  minds  being  covered  with  that 
consolation  which  the  blessed  .Savior  gives  to  his  faithful  and  de- 
voted people. 

The  three  following  days  we  rode  by  the  way  of  Newbern  aljout 
seventy  miles  to  Core  Sound  (the  weather  being  so  warm  that  we 
could  not  travel  fast),  and  on  the  third  day  of  the  7th  month  we 
had  a  good  and  precious  meeting  at  the  Methodist  meeting  house 
in  the  town  of  Beaufort.  I  was  much  favored  to  open  the  truths  of 
the  gospel  to  the  people.     The  meeting  ended  with  supplication. 

The  next  day  being  First-day,  we  were  at  Friends'  Meeting  for 
worship,  at  Core  Sound,  and  through  divine  mercy  it  was  made  a 
solemn,  edifying  season.  I  was  much  o])ened  in  the  gospel  and  in 
prayer.  The  song  of  salvation  was  sung  in  our  spirit,  magnified 
be  the  great  and  holy  name.  The  5th,  we  took  a  farewell  leave  of 
some  dear  friends  of  Core  Sound,  and  set  out  for  Newborn,  and  had 
a  small  meeting  on  the  way  at  a  dwelling  house,  where  I  had  good 
service.  The  people  were  much  tendered  and  broken.  It  was  a 
good  meeting  and  ended  well.  The  jieople  were  very  kind  to  us, 
and  expressed  thankfulness  for  the  opi)ortunity.  We  took  a  tender 
leave  of  tJiem  and  arrived  in  Newbern  this  evening,  where  we  tar- 
ried the  next  day  with  a  very'respectal)le  and  kind  Methodist  fam- 
ily, and  had  a  large  meeting  in  the  evening  by  early  candlelight,  at 
the  Methodist  meeting-house.  I  was  favored  with  divine  ability  to 
declare  many  solemn  truths  to  the  i)eople  ;  I  had  good  service 
among  them.  The  people  were  quiet  and  many  of  them  were  ten- 
der and  serious.  The  meeting  concluded  with  solemn  prayer  and 
supplication  to  the  Lord.  Praised  forever  be  his  ever  glorious  name  I 
The  7th,  we  took  a  tender  farewell  of  some  dear  Methodists,  and 
left  Newbern  in  order  to  go  to  Contentney,  where  we  arrived  in 
time  to  attend  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends  there,  on  the  lOth. 
There  I  had  some  small  service  to  good  satisfaction.  The  next  day 
we  were  at  the  First-day  meeting  at  the  same  place,  and  truth's 
testimony  went  forth  to  the  encouraging  of  the  faithful,  and  to  the 
admonishing  of  the  slothful.  It  was  a  ])retty  good  meeting,  and 
ended  with  prayer  and  thanksgiving  to  him  who  gives  strength  to 
the  saints,  and  soothes*  the  truly  sincere  and  solitary  everywhere. 
The  three  following   days  we  had   meetings   at   Turner's   Svanip, 


62  JOUHXAL   OF   THOMAS    AKXKTT.  I8.i4 

Xawhiinty,  and  Xeux.  These  meetings  Avoro  large  and  eminently 
favored  with  the  doctrines  and  counsel  of  the  everlasting  truth. 
Many  were  tendered  and  much  broken  ;  the  Lord's  dedicated  ones 
edified  and  encouraged  in  a  virtuous  and  religious  life,  and  sinners 
were  invited  to  turn  from  darkness  to  light  in  tlie  day  of  their  hea- 
venly visitation.  The  15th,  we  had  a  large  and  heavenly  meeting 
at  Wayne  court-house,  where  I  was  enabled  through  divine  ability 
to  declare  the  gospel  in  the  life  and  power  thereof.  The  people 
were  fall  of  attention  and  I  thought  many  of  them  were  awakened 
to  serious  reflection  ;  the  meeting  concluded  with  prayer. 

The  loth,  we  were  at  the  Select  Quarterly  Meeting  at  Content- 
ney,  and  it  was  a  low  time  ;  I  was  shut  up  in  silence.  The  17th, 
we  were  at  the  Quarterly  Meeting  for  worshi})  and  discipline  :  and 
through  divine  goodness  it  was  made  a  comfortable  and  edifying 
season  ;  I  had  good  service  both  in  the  meeting  for  worship  and 
discipline.  The  next  day  being  First-day,  the  public  meeting  for 
worship  was  very  large,  and  eminently  favored  with  the  doctrines 
and  truths  of  the  everlasting  gospel  ;  my  soul  was  replete  with  a 
measure  of  that  pure  love  which  emenates  from  the  throne  of  grace, 
and  utterance  was  given  me  to  unfold  many  solemn  truths  to  the 
people.  Many  precious  souls  rejoiced  in  Ood,  their  salvation,  and 
gave  him  thanks  for  his  goodness  and  mercy.  ToAvards  the  close 
of  meeting  I  was  draAvn  to  speak  to  the  black  people  in  gospel 
loA'C,  (many  of  them  being  present,)  and  they  seemed  tender  and 
serious.  Blessed  be  the  Lord  I 

The  10th,  we  had  a  good  ojien  meeting  among  the  Ba]itists  and 
others,  at  Union,  (a  Baptist  meeting-house.)  It  Avas  very  large  and 
highly  favored  with  doctrine  and  instruction.  I  had  a  very  free, 
open  time  with  them  ;  many  were  much  tendered  and  broken,  and 
gave  thanks  in  their  hearts  for  the  opportunity.  The  meeting- 
ended  to  good  satisfaction.  The  peojole  Avere  full  of  kindness  to  us. 
We  took  a  tender  leave  of  them  and  rode  to  the  town  of  Smithi'eld, 
where  Ave  had  another  meeting  this  afternoon  at  the  court  bouse. 
It  Avas  also  large  and  much  favored  Avith  the  counsel  and  instruction 
of  divine  love.  The  people  were  quiet  and  full  of  attention;  I  had 
a  good  open  time  Avith  them.  The  meeting  closed  to  good  satisfac- 
tion, and  the  people  Avere  kind  to  us.  Blessed  forever  be  the  name 
of  the  Lord!  The  20th,  avc  rode  upwards  of  tAventy  miles  to  Ea- 
leigh,  Avbere  avc  spent  the  next  day  m  visiting  people  of  the  first 
character  of  this  place,  Avith  Avhom  avc  found  accci)tancc,  and  had  a 
meeting  in  the  evening  by  early  candle-light  at  the  Methodist 
meeting-house,  in  Avhich  I  had  much  good  service  for  the  Lord. 
I  Avas  much  opened  in  the  love  and  poAver  of  Jesus  Christ  to  declare 
the  Avay  of  life  and  salvation.  I  Avas  also  much  favored  Avith  the 
spirit  of  prayer.  The  meeting  ended  to  good  satisfaction.  I 
thought  Ave  did  some  good  in  this  place,  both  in  our  private  visits 
from  house  to  house  and  at  meeting.     The  people  Avere  A'ery  kind 


182J  JOIUXAL    OF    THOMAS    AUXETT.  03 

and  aft'ectionate  to  us.  Praised  forever  be  tlie  name  of  the  Lord  I 
The  '^'^nd,  we  rode  upwards  of  tliirty  miles  to  the  vicinity  of  P'riends 
of  Eno,  Avhere  we  spent  the  two  following  days  in  visiting  Friends, 
rather  in  a  sociable  way,  and  the  ;i5th  we  were  at  their  First-day 
meeting,  where  I  found  much  good  service  for  the  Lord.  Blessed  be 
His  holy  name!  The  20tli,  we  rode  upwards  of  forty  miles  to  the 
house  of  my  dear  companion,  George  Swain,  and  his  family  seemed 
truly  glad  of  our  safe  return.  The  next  day  I  took  a  solemn  fare- 
well of  him  and  his  family,  and  rode  home  with  the  reward  of 
peace  and  consolation  of  mind.  Blessed  forever  be  the  name  of  him 
who  preserved  my  beloved  companion  and  myself  in  true  gospel 
love  and  sympathy  in  the  foregoing  journey,  and  who  made  us  in- 
strumental, I  trust,  in  doing  some  good. 

We  were  out  on  this  journey  about  twelve  weeks,  and  ti'aveled, 
by  computation,  about  fifteen  hundred  miles;  and  though  we  met 
with  some  very  deep  trials  of  mind,  yet  we  ofteu  had  some  comfort- 
able seasons,  which  will  not  soon  be  forgotten. 

In  the  Sth  month,  1824,  with  the  appropabion  of  our  Monthly 
Meeting,  I  visited,  in  gospel  love,  the  Western  Quarterly  Meeting, 
and  most  of  the  meetings  that  constitute  it,  and  had  much  good 
service  therein  for  the  Lord.  The  glorious  power  of  truth  wjis  over 
all.  The  faithful  were  much  strengthened  and  edified  in  the  gospel 
of  Christ,  and  the  way  of  life  and  peace  was  pointed  out  to  sinners. 
Blessed  be  the  Lord!  On  the  22nd  of  this  month  I  had  a  meeting 
at  Methodist  meeting-house  in  Hillsborough,  where  I  had  good 
service.     The  meeting  ended  with  prayer,  to  pretty  good  satisfaction. 

On  the  lOtli  of  the  9th  month,  I  had  a  good  meeting  at  Bethel, 
a  Methodist  meeting-house  in  Guilford  county.  It  was  large  and 
much  favored  with  doctrine  and  admonition,  and  it  solemnly  con- 
cluded with  pra3^er  and  supplication. 

On  the  3rd  of  the  10th  month,  I  had  a  large  meeting  at  Mount 
Sion,  a  Methodist  meeting-house  in  Stokes  county,  where  I  Avas 
much  opened  in  the  doctrines  and  truths  of  the  gospel.  The  meet- 
ing closed  with  prayer,  to  good  satisfaction. 

In  the  11th  month,  I  attended  our  Yearly  Meeting,  held  at  Xew 
Garden,  to  my  satisfaction  and  edification;  the  several  sittings  there- 
of being  times  of  divine  favor.  Our  esteemed  Friend,  William 
Forster,  a  minister  from  Old  England  on  a  religious  visit,  attended 
this  Yearly  Meeting,  and  had  much  good  service  therein  for  the 
Lord;  he  before  and  since  visited,  in  gospel  love,  most  of  the  meet- 
ings of  Friends  on  this  continent,  and  frequently  had  meetings 
among  those  not  of  our  religious  society,  and  his  services  on  this 
continent  were  acceptable  to  Friends.  He  was  sound  in  the  min- 
istry, and  appeared  to  be  very  careful  to  minister  in  the  light  and 
life  of  the  precious  truth. 

Having  thought  for  some  years  past  that  it  would  be  right  for 
me  some  day  to  leave  the  land  of  my  nativity  and  move  to  the  State 


64  JOrHXAL    OF    THOMAS    AI{XETT.  1824 

of  Ohio,  and  tliere  settle  myself,  and  believing  the  time  had  arrived 
for  me  to  look  that  way,  I  laid  the  matter  before  the  Lord  and 
songlit  his  counsel;  and  being  convinced  in  my  mind  that  it  Avas 
consistent  Avith  His  Avill  for  me  to  make  such  a  move,  I  therefore 
seasonsably  laid  my  prospect  before  our  Monthly  Meeting,  and  after 
a  time  of  solid  deliberation  thereon,  Friends  gave  me  up  to  the 
pointings  of  pure  wisdom  in  this  matter,  though  it  was  very  trying 
to  them  to  part  with  me;  and  with  their  tender  sympathy  and  ap- 
probation I  visited  in  gospel  love  most  of  the  families  constituting 
our  Monthly  Meeting,  and  also  visited  a  great  many  neighboring 
meetings  of  Friends,  and  held  a  number  of  meetings  among  those 
not  of  our  religious  society.  These  meetings  were,  most  of  them, 
large  and.  tendering  seasons,  being  times  of  divine  favor,  being  also 
farewell  opportunities  with  many  who  had  great  sympathy  with  me, 
and  wlio  desired  my  Avelfare  both  in  time  and  eternity. 

I  have  had  a  great  deal  of  very  deep  exercise  and  laborious  service 
in  my  native  country.  I  labored  faithfully  for  a  reformation  among 
my  follow  creatures,  both  within  and  without  the  limits  of  our 
so'-iety:  often  visiting  Friends  from  house  to  house,  and  appointing 
meetings  among  all  sorts  of  peojile,  as  truth  opened  the  way.  The 
youth  and  slave-holders  were  often  the  subject  of  my  concern;  I 
was  frequenth'  drawn  to  speak  to  them  in  my  public  communica- 
tions, opening  to  them  the  repugnancy  of  slavery  to  the  Ciiristian 
religion,  and  pointing  out  to  them  the  way  of  light  and  salvation. 
The  iioor,  degraded,  and  sutfering  Africans  were  often  brought  to 
iny  remembrance,  claiming  my  S3anpathy  and  prayers  for  their 
melioration,  I  frequently  took  individual  as  well  as  public  oppor- 
tunities with  their  cruel  oppressors,  for  the  purpose  of  convincing 
them  of  the  injustice  of  their  conduct  towards  the  poor  colored 
people.  The  poor  suffering  descendents  of  Africa  will  one  day,  I 
believe,  obtain  their  freedom  some  way  or  other:  for  that  power 
Avhich  presides  in  the  councils  of  nations  will,  in  its  own  time, 
l)ring  about  their  freedom,  either  in  mercy  or  in  awful  judgments. 
Our  society  is  on  the  decline  in  all  the  slave-holding  countries;  and 
I  am  persuaded  that  the  time  is  approaching  when  Friends  will  not 
be  found  living  where  slavery  abounds,  for  our  profession  is  so 
repugnant  to  abject  slavery  that  I  doubt  whether  they  can  long 
dwell  together,  even  under  the  same  government. 

I  tjius  labored  in  truth's  service  till  I  thought  my  mind  was  clear  of 
my  native  land  for  the  present.  I  then  requestetl  and  obtained  my 
certificate  of  right  of  membership  among  Friends  to  Center  ^lonthly 
Meeting  in  the  State  of  Ohio,  Ijelieving  that  I  saw  the  light  before 
me  pointing  out  the  way  to  those  parts.  I  had  a  farewell  meeting 
at  our  meeting-house  (t'nion),  on  the  8th  day  of  the  otli  month, 
18'^."),  which  was  hirge,  and  it  was  truly  a  tendering  and  solemn 
season;  after  which  1  took  my  leave  of  my  dear  friends  with  tears 
and  brokenness  of  heart,  and  after  sjiending  most  of  the  next  day 


isa>  JOUUN'AL   OF  THOMAS    AKXI-rrT.  05 

witli  my  relatives  and  some  Friends,  I  took  ii  very  affeetionate  fare- 
well of  them  and  set  forward  on  my  intended  jonrney,  and  after 
having  a  trying  and  solitary  travel,  I  arrived  among  Friends  of 
Center  Montldy  Meeting  in  the  fore  part  of  the  following  month. 
Friends  received  me  and  my  certificate  with  cordiality  and  gratitnde, 
believing  that  Providence  liad  cast  my  lot  among  them,  iind  I  was 
also  glad  tliat  T  had  arrived  among  them. 

Soon  after  I  arrived  1  o])ened  a  school  at  New  Hoj^e,  in  Green  ■ 
county,  a  Preparative  Meeting  of  Center  ]\[onthly  Meeting,  for 
Friends'  cliildren,  where  I  taught  school  for  a  number  of  months^ 
to  satisfaction.  I  also  visited  in  gospel  love,  with  the  unity  of  our 
Monthly  Meeting  (C-enter),  a  number  of  Friends'  Meetings  in  these 
parts,  to  edj/fication  and  comfort.  Some  of  them  were  large  and 
remarkjjbly  owned  by  the  Good  Shepherd  of  Israel. 

In  these  days  my  spirit  had  a  very  sore  travail.  I  dwelt  much 
alone,  pouring  out  my  soul  in  prayer  and  supplication  before  him 
who  knew  the  sincerity  and  integrity  of  my  heart,  and  Avho  was  ac- 
quainted" with  all  my  sorrows  and  tribulations.  I  was  sometimes 
given  up  to  the  butfetings  of  the  enemy,  by  whom  .my  weary  soul 
was  much  troubled  ;  for  he  bestirred  himself,  and  set  the  human 
imagination  to  work,  and  raised  horrid  thoughts  and  fearful  appre- 
hensions in  my  mind.  All  consolation,  both  humianand  divine,  fre- 
quently departed  from  me,  and  doubts,  with  sore  conflicts  of  mind, 
painfully  pervaded  me.  I  at  times,  however,  enjoyed  some  com- 
fortable seasons  ;  but  these  seasons  were  of  short  duration  ;  they 
were  comparable  to  the  wind  that  bloAveth,  and  ])asseth  by  us  from 
one  quarter  of  tlie  globe  to  another — we  hear  the  sound  thereof, 
but  cannot  tell  whence  it  cometh,  nor  whither  it  goeth  ;  it  soon 
Cometh,  and  as  soon  passeth  away.  The  churches  in  Christ  were 
imj)rovingly  brought  to  my  remembrance,  and  I  thought  that  I  was 
made  sensible  that  many  of  them  which  were  once  in  him,  the 
everlasting  vine,  and  were  nourished  and  kept  alive  by  him  while 
they  continued  faithful,  through 'unfaithfulness  to  him  were  now 
in  a  state  of  depravit}^,  and  that  the  spirit  of  anti-christ  was  at  work 
in  them,  seeking  their  downfall  and  utter  destruction.  Many  of 
the  members  thereof,  who  were  once  shining  ornaments  ther-ein — 
who  had  attained  through  self-denial  much  deep  experience  in  the 
school  of  Christ,  and  who  stood  as  pillars  for  a  season — whose  head 
had  often  been  anointed  with  the  heavenly  anointing  oil,  and.sent 
forth  in  the  spirit  and  power  of  the  glorious  gospel  of  the  meek  and 
holy  Jesus,  conquering  and  to  conquer — have  through  disobedience 
become  captivated  and  beguiled  by  the  baits  and  insinuations  of 
Anti-christ,  the  enemy  of  all  that  is  of  God.  A  sense  of  these 
things  grieved  me.  My  spirit  travailed  in  the  deeps  and  in  vital 
prayer  for  their  deliverance.  Oli  !  that  those  may  see  their  awful 
situation,  and  make  their  peace  with  God  before  their  travel  through 
time  shall  be  completed.     Oh  !  my  God,  thou  hast  a  sure  contro- 


(56  JOURXAL   OF   THOMAS    AKNETT.  1825 

versy  with  all  the  nations,  and  with  all  the  people  of  the  whole 
eartii  ;  and  I  beseech  thee  to  have  mercy  on  them,  and  let  thy  holy 
name  evfr  be  exalted  above  all,  for  thou  art  worthy. 

My  mind  was  very  much  impi-essed  ;  I  had  many  things  to  pass 
through,  meeting  with  trials  without  and  conflicts  within.  I  was 
at  length  made  sensible  that  I  was  under  the  qualifying  power  and 
discipline  of  truth  for  much  service  in  the  great  vineyard  of  the 
Lord  ;  that  these  trials  and  conflicts,  if  patiently  borne,  will  more 
and  more  refine  me,  and  fit  me  for  service  in  the  church  militant. 
Oh!  my  God,  refine  me,  I  beseech  thee,  in  thine  own  will  and  way, 
as  the  gold  is  refined  which  hath  passed  seven  times  through  the 
refiner's  furnace,  and  which  afterward  passeth  through  the  burning- 
furnace  again  and  again,  and  cometh  out  with  the  same  weight  and 
value  with  which  it  goeth  in.  Thus  deal  with  me,  I  pray  thee,  and 
be  with  me  in  nil  my  undertakings,  and  let  me  attain  unto  that 
pure  state  of  holiness  wherein  nothing  can  hurt  me,  so  that  I  may 
do  thy  will,  and  glorify  thee  both  in  time  and  eternity.  I  renewed 
my  patience  in  Christ  and  abode  under  his  holy  discipline,  believing 
that  every  trial  and  conflict  will,  if  patience  and  sincerity  be 
abode  in,  more  and  more  refine  the  truly  devoted  ones,  fit  them  for 
the  Lord's  service  and  draw  them  nearer  and  nearer  to  the  king- 
dom of  heaven.  Thus  divine  goodness  dealt  with  me  ;  leaving  me 
at  times  to  be  tried  and  buffeted  many  ways,  and  at  others,  giving 
me  some  comfortable  and  precious  seasons,  and  leading  me  in  vis- 
ions to  see  the  state  of  many  important  things. 

In  the  10th  month  this  year  I  attened  our  Yearly  Meeting,  held 
at  Whitewater,  in  the  State  of  Indiana,  and  therein  had  much  deep 
exercise  of  mind.  Divers  Aveighty  matters  were  transacted  in  harmony 
and  condescension,  through  the  cpuilifying  infiuence  of  pure  wis- 
dom. Some  suitable  advices  were  sent  down  to  the  inferior  meet- 
ings upon  sundry  important  subjects  ;  a  joint  committee  of  men 
and  women  Friends  was  also  appointed  to  go  with  these  advices  and 
visit  the  Quarterly  and  Monthly  Meetings  constituting  this  Yearly 
Meeting,  and  labor  for  a  refornuition  in  society  according  to  the 
pointings  of  truth.  My  name  was  entered  on  this  appointment, 
and  in  going  forward  into  this  work  we  found  many  existing  defi- 
ciencies among  Friends,  yet  to  our  consolation  we  met  with  many 
dear  and  sincere  hearted  Friends,  who  stood  firm  for  the  law  and 
testimony,  and  these  Avere  encouraged  in  the  way  of  well  doing. 
We  were  enabled  through  divine  goodness  to  administer  suitable 
counsel  and  advice  to  the  various  departments  of  society,  and  I 
trust  that  much  good  will  result  from  this  work.  This  Yeavly 
Meeting  is  very  lai'ge,  and  although  many  Avorthy  and  well-con- 
cerned Friends  belong  to  it,  yet  there  are  many  others  wlio  do 
dwell  at  ease,  who  ti)ink  they  are  full  and  lack  nothing,;  aiul  some 
of  them  are  not  even  sound  in  the  faith.  Oh  I  that  these  may  see 
their  awful  situation  and  amend  their  ways  while  it  is  d:iy,  for  the 
night  cometh,  wherein  none  can  work. 


182fi  .JOIRXAL    OF    THOMAS    A  K  N  HTT.  67 

Bc'lievini;'  the  time  had  iit  leiigtli  arrived  for  me  to  hegiii  to  tliiuk 
al)out  marrying  and  settling  myself,  having  liitherto  lived  in  other 
people's  huuses,  having  never  had  a  home  of  my  own.  and  I  now 
vei'ging  on  towards  advanced  age,  I  therefore  thought  when  way 
o])ened  in  the  truth  that  it  would  he  right  for  me  to  have  a  home 
of  my  own.  JIaving  also  of  late  felt  more  lonesome  and  tried  in  a 
single  life  than  ft)rmerly.  My  dear  mother  de[)arted  tliis  life  in 
peace  some  years  hefore  T  left  my  native  country,  the  loss  of  whom 
increased  my  solitary  hours.  She  was  a  good  mother  to  me,  and  I 
have  no  doubt  but  she  is  at  rest.  Friends  have  been  very  kind  to 
me  since  my  lot  was  cast  in  our  religions  society;  their  houses  and 
hearts  were  open  to  receive  me,  and  to  tiy  to  make  me  comfortable 
where  my  lot  was  cast  among  them.  I  here  speak  of  genuine 
Friends,  for  all  are  not  genuine  who  belong  to  our  society,  for  there 
are  those  who  have  crept  within  the  limits  of  our  borders,  who 
have  a  name  to  live,  but  are  dead  to  the  pure  principles  of  vital  and 
genuine  Christianity.  I  know,  from  certain  experience,  that  gen- 
uine Friends  are  a  very  sympathizing  people  ;  they  sympathize  with 
all  suffering  humanity  and  visit  tlie  sick  and  afflicted. 

I  was  very  much  concerned  to  nuirry  and  settle  myself  according 
to  the  pointings  and  directions  of  him  who  has  been  very  gracious 
to  my  soul,  and  who  has  preserved  me  through  many  tribulations 
and  probations.  I  therefore  with  sincerity  and  purity  of  intention 
laid  this  weighty  matter  before  my  Heavenly  Father,  and  sought  his 
counsel  with  prayer  and  singleness  of  heart,  and  patiently  waited  for 
his  divine  influence  and  direction;  and  I  believe  that  he,  in  the  full- 
ness of  time,  turned  my  heart  towards  my  dear  Friend  Rachel  Faulk- 
ner, an  innocent  and  well-inclined  young  Avoman,  and  the  daughter 
of  David  Faulkner,  deceased,  and  Judith  his  wife,  and  sister  of  Jesse 
Faulkner,  (the  Friend  who  traveled  with  me  when  I  was  in  this 
country  on  a  religious  visit,)  to  whom  I  was  married  after  mature 
and  solid  deliberation,  on  the  second  day  of  the  12tli  month  this  year, 
1825,  at  our  meeting  at  N"ew  Hope.  Afterwards  I  settled  myself  in 
the  vicinity,  on  the  place  where  her  father  opened  and  improved; 
she  possessing  a  sufficiency  of  this  Avorld  for  a  good,  comfortable 
living  with  good  economy. 

On  the  thirteenth  day  of  tlie  3rd  month,  182(J,  a  Quarterly 
Meeting  was  opened  and  estal)lished  at  Center  meeting-house, 
known  by  the  name  of  '"('enter  Quarterly  Meeting."  My  mind 
was  comforted  and  edified  at  the  opening  of  this  meeting,  being  a 
time  wherein  the  good  and  helping  Shepherd  of  Israel  was  graciously 
pleased  to  vouchsafe  his  life-giving  presence,  and  to  enable  his 
little  ones,  his  sincere,  devoted  followers,  to  sing  the  song  of  salva- 
tion, and  to  give  glory  to  his  great  and  holy  name.  This,  our 
newly  established  Quarterly  Meeting,  is  large,  and  although  many 
worthy  Friends  belong  to  it,  who  appear  to  have  the  cause  at  heart, 
and  to  be  much  concerned  for  the  removal  of  wrong  things  from 


G8  JOURXAL    OF   THOMAS    AllXETT.  1828 

among  us,  that  our  Sion  may  arise  from  the  dust  and  shake  herself, 
and  shine  in  her  primitive  beauty,  yet  there  are  those  belonging 
to  it  Avho  dwell  only  on  the  surface  of  tilings,  who  have  never,  1 
fear,  passed  through  the  various  stages  of  the  great  work  of  regen- 
eration. May  these  experience  true  and  Cliristian  redemjotion 
through  the  sufferings  and  mediation  of  the  Lamb  which  was  slain, 
from  the  foundation  of  the  world,  for  the  sins  and  transgressions 
of  man;  to  whom  all  may  come,  and  through  his  gracious  propitia- 
sion,  by  obedience  and  self-denial  on  their  part,  find  acceptance 
with  the  Fatlier  and  be  saved  Avith  an  everlasting  salvation. 

In  tlie  summer,  this  year,  18;^ 6,  with  the  unity  and  sympathy  of 
Friends,  and  in  company  with  my  dear  friend  Jacob  Carjienter,  I 
visited,  in  gospel  love,  most  of  the  families  of  our  own  Montlily 
Meeting,  (Center,)  and  had  some  public  appointed  meetings  for 
worship.  In  this  service  we  had  cause  to  be  reverently  tbankful 
for  the  condescending  goodness  of  the  Holy  Head  of  the  churcj], 
under  a  sense  of  whose  love  and  guidance  we  Avere  enabled  to  go 
from  house  to  house,  distributing  the  bread  of  life  to  the  poor  m 
spirit,  and  reminding  the  negligent  of  the  necessity  of  greater 
watchfulness  and  more  circumspect  walking.  We  visited  about  a 
hundred  and  twenty  families,  I  thought  to  good  satisfaction. 
Glory  forever  be  ascribed  to  him  who  is  the  giver  of  every  good  and 
perfect  gift ! 

Our  Yearly  Meeting  this  year,  182G,  was  very  large,  and  remarka- 
bly owned  by  the  Good  Shepherd  of  Israel.  And  although  it  was 
thought  that  some  improvement  had  been  made  siiice  last  year,  yet 
we  had  to  lament  in  observing  various  deficiencies  among  us,  for 
the  removing  of  which  several  living  testimonies  Avere  borne,  and 
Friends  ai)peared  to  be  engaged  in  endeavoring  to  bring  about 
measures  which  would  effect  a  desired  reformation  in  society,  and 
it  was  desired  that  the  hands  of  the  laborers  everywhere  might  be 
strengthened  to  labor  effectually  in  the  church  of  Christ.  Suital)le 
advices  were  sent  down  to  the  subordinate  meetings,  with  pressing 
desires  that  all  our  meml^ers  may  live  up  to  the  principles  of  our 
religious  profession.  It  was  my  lot,  while  at  this  Yearly  Meeting, 
to  suffer  with  the  suffering  seed.  I  abode  in  patience  and  prayer, 
being  resigned  to  the  Divine  Will. 

For  several  years  following,  my  domestic  avocation  was  farming, 
which  I  managed  in  such  a  numner  as  to  jirocure  a  sufficient  living 
for  my  family,  and  did  not  suffer  the  prosecution  thereof  to  inter- 
fere with  my  religious  duties.  I  faithfully  attended  all  our  meetings 
for  Avorship  and  discipline,  as  they  came  in  coui'se,  and  also,  besides 
this  service,  found  much  to  do  for  the  Lord  Avithinthe  limits  of  our 
Yearly  Meetings.  In  the  year  1828,  Avith  the  a|)probation  of  Friends, 
and  in  company  Avith  Joseph  Doan.  Jun.,  a  Friend  in  good  esteem, 
I  visited  in  gosi)el  love  most  of  the  families  of  Springfield  and  DoA-er 
Monthly  Meetings  of  Friends,  to  satisfaction.     In  this  service  Ave 


1828  JOUKXAL    OF   THOMAS    AI{\K'IT.  69 

visited  upwards  of  ;i  hundred  families  and  had  cause  to  be  reverently 
thankful  to  the  Lord  for  his  mercy  in  preserving  us  to  the  glory  of 
his  great  name.  Sometime  after  I  j^erformod  tliis  visit,  the  Lord 
removed,  by  death,  our  dear  little  son,  an  infant,  our  only  child; 
this  was  truly  a  great  trial  to  us,  but  through  divine  mercy  we  were 
in  a  good  degree  preserved  in  Christian  patience  and  fortitude, 
knowing  that  he  was  taken  from  the  evil  to  come,  and  received  into 
everlasting  rest. 

The  ditiiculties  and  peculiar  trials  of  our  religious  society,  in 
many  places  on  this  continent,  in  and  about  this  time,  were  of  a 
very  serious  nature.  A  considerable  party  in  our  society,  who  were 
unsound  in  faith  and  doctrine,  caused  great  trouble  to  Friends, 
There  were  in  this  party,  ministers,  elders,  and  others  Avho  once 
stood  fair  amongst  Friends,  but  through  unwatchfulness  to  the 
light  of  Christ,  they  became  deistical  and  opposed  the  faith  and  the 
hope  of  the  gospel.  Those  who  constitute  this  party  are  justly 
c.'dled  Hicksites:  being  the  followers  of  Elias  Hicks.  They 
deny  the  fundamental  doctrines  of  the  religion  of  our  dear  Lord 
and  Savior  Jesus  Christ,  and  have  gone  out  in  open  infidelity  and 
deism,  proclaiming  war  against  that  salvation  which  the  Redeemer 
purcljased  by  his  sufferings  and  precious  blood  for  all  mankind. 
Our  Society  after  faithfully  laljoring  Avitli  them  for  their  restoration, 
according  to  our  discipline,  without  the  desired  effect,  was  favored 
through  adorable  mercy  to  sustain  the  cause  of  truth  and  righteous- 
ness, and  issue  testimonies  of  denial  against  them  and  their  anti- 
Christian  doctrines.  In  consequence  of  their  unholy  work,  which 
they  prosecuted  under  the  influence  of  the  Prince  of  the  Air,  in  the 
specious  garb  of  refined  spirituality,  a  deeply-affecting  schism  has 
been  produced  in  many  parts  of  the  Society.  Within  the  limits 
of  the  Yearly  Meetings  of  New  York,  Philadelphia,  Baltimore, 
Ohio  and  Indiana,  meetings  claiming  the  character  of  the  Society 
of  Friends  are  held,  though  separated  from  the  body.Jjoth  in  doc- 
trine and  discijjline.  Through  the  Lord's  protecting  hand,  howev- 
er, the  Ycarli/  Meetings  of  Friends  in  all  those  places  ai'e  sustained, 
and  hold  religious  fellowship  with  one  another,  and  with  the 
ancient  Yearly  Meetings  of  New  England,  Virginia,  North  Carolina, 
London  and  Dublin,  in  which  there  is  no  schism.  These,  accord- 
ing to  the  order  of  the  Society,  constitute  but  one  body,  which 
acknowledges  no  communion  nor  religious  fellowship  with  the 
Hicksites  or  their  Meetings. 

The  Hicksites  have  been  the  cause  of  great  trials  and  sufferings 
to  Friends,  in  which  I  have  had  my  share;  for  those  of  them  in 
this  country  when  I  felt  bound  to  bear  the  Lord's  testimony  against 
their  anti-Christian  doctrines  powerfully  opi)osed  me  in  many 
instances,  both  in  public  and  private,  notwithstanding  which  I 
believed  it  to  be  my  duty  to  go  forth,  as  divine  aljility  was  given,  in 
refuting  the  doctrine  of  infidelity  and  deism  held  by  them;  and  in 


70  JOURXAL    OF    THOMAS    AHXETT.  1828 

simply  maintaining  the  docrines  of  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  and  Sav- 
iour Jesus  Clirist  and  his  ins})ired  apostles,  according  to  the  Holy 
Scriptures.  When  they  found  that  I  was  not  to  be  turned  out  of 
the  way  wliieh  the  Lord  had  cast  up  for  me,  they  did  all  that  they 
could  to  reproach  my  religious  character  by  si)reading  and  circulat- 
ing false  and  scandalous  reports  on  me  in  different  parts  of  tlie  world 
■where  I  was  known,  in  order  to  lessen  my  standing  amongst  my  fel- 
low beings;  but  through  these  deep  and  sore  trials  the  Lord  in  his 
adorable  mercy  and  goodness  signally  preserved  me ;  I  trust  in  a 
good  degree  to  the  glory  and  honor  of  his  great  name. 

The  ministers  in  our  Yearly  Meeting  who  went  forth  in  this  awful 
time  in  the  authority  of  truth,  and  stood  alone  for  the  testimony  of 
God,  were  but  few,  amongst  whom  our  dear  friend  Charles  Osborn 
stood  foremost ;  he  was  eminently  favored  in  refuting  Hicksism  and 
making  known  the  mystery  of  the  gospel,  for  which  he  patiently 
endured  deejD  trials  and  sore  conflicts,  through  which  the  Lord  sig- 
nally preserved  him  to  the  glory  and  honor  of  his  great  name. 

It  became  necessary,  in  consequence  of  the  schism  produced  in 
many  meetings  of  the  Hicksites  in  our  society  m  this  country,  for 
onr  Yearly  Meeting  for  some  years  to  extend  a  fostering  care  to  its 
subordinate  branches;  in  the  course  of  which  all  the  Quarterly, 
Monthly  and  Preparative  Meetings  belonging  to  the  Y^early  ]\Ie(.t- 
ing  were  visited,  and  some  of  them  rejieatedly,  by  a  solid  committee 
sent  down  from  year  to  year  to  aid  and  assist  Friends  in  sustaining  the 
cause  of  truth,  and  putting  our  discipline  in  force  against  the  anti- 
Christian  doctrines  of  the  Hicksites.  Epistles  of  advice  were  also 
re])eatedly  sent  down,  adapted  to  the  state  of  society,  which  were 
calculated  to  encourage  Friends  to  stand  firm,  and  maintain  the 
faith  and  the  hope  of  the  gospel.  A  suitable  ])ortion  of  this  labor 
fell  to  me,  being  repeatedly  appointed  by  the  Y^early  Meeting,  with 
others,  for  the  sustenance  of  our  discipline  and  doctrines.  In  the 
prosecution  of  this  weighty  engagement  we  were  favored,  I  trust, 
with  that  ability  which  enableth  to  Avork  availingly  in  the  militant 
church  of  our  dear  Lord  aiul  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.  In  some  places 
we  found  a  great  deal  to  do  in  order  to  sustain  the  cliaracter  of  our 
Society;  through  all  which  I  trust  we  wei-e  preserved,  to  the  glory 
and  honor  of  the  great  Head  of  the  Church,  and  to  the  peace  of  our 
own  minds.  Blessed  forever  be  the  name  of  the  Lord!  This  con- 
cern was  continued  by  our  Yearly  Meeting  till  the  discipline  of  the 
Society  of  Friends  was,  in  most  instances,  put  in  execution  against 
the  intrusion  and  anti-Christian  doctrines  of  the  Hicksites.  By  this 
means  the  hands  of  faithful  Friends  were  strengthened,  and  the 
bond  of  religious  fellowship  was  mutually  increased. 

My  mind  in  these  days  became  deei)ly  concerned  for  the  suste- 
nance of  the  faith,  the  hoi)e  and  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel  of  our 
dear  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Clirist;  believing  that  the  spirit  of  infi- 
delity was  making  its  awful  strides  in  the  minds  of  many,  and 


1828  JOUHNAI.    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  71 

sproading.  in  many  instances,  desolation  within  the  pale  of  the 
church  militant,  under  the  specious  garb  of  refined  spirituality. 
Under  a  sensible  conviction  of  this  con(iern,  witli  the  unity  and 
approbation  of  my  dear  friends,  way  opened  in  my  mind  from  time 
to  time  to  ai)poin't  and  hold  many  meetings  in  this  country  for  the 
open  and  public  worship  of  God,  not  only  amongst  Friends,  but 
also  in  many  places  amongst  those  who  arc  not  in  religious  profes- 
sion with  us;  and  I  trust  that  the  holding  of  these  meetings,  a 
number  of  which  were  very  large,  did  no  injury  to  the  cause  of 
truth,  for  I  believe  that  the  Lord  was  with  me,  and  enabled  me  to 
refute  the  principles  of  infidelity,  and  to  deliver  the  doctrines  of 
the  gospel  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  well-inclined.  Praised  forever 
be  His  holy  name  I  witliout  whom  I  can  do  nothing. 

It  became  necessary,  also,  for  our  Yearly  Meeting  of  ministers 
and  elders,  in  the  time  of  this  unusual  difiiculty  and  excitement  in 
our  Society  in  consequence  of  the  separation,  to  enter  into  a 
weighty  engagement  in  laboring  with  its  subordinate  branches  and 
members,  which  engagement  is  exhibited  in  the  following  Epistle 
of  advice,  Avhich  was  issued  by  this  part  of  the  Society  after  the 
separation  took  place  in  our  Yearly  Meeting. 

"To  the  Quarierly  and  Preparative  Meetings  of  the  Ministers  and 
Elders  tvithin  the  limits  of  Indiana  Yearly  MeetiiKj: 

''Dear  Friends — This  meeting  being  brought  into  a  deep  travail 
and  concern  on  account  of  the  many  deviations  existing  amongst 
ns,  and  much  pertinent  counsel  was  delivered,  tending  to  stir  np  to 
a  more  diligent  search  and  examination  into  our  own  states  and 
conditions;  may  we,  dear  friends,  be  made  willing  to  be  searched 
and  proved;  for  it  is  the  will  of  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  that 
Zion  shall  be  redeemed  with  judgment  and  her  converts  with  right- 
eousness. We  believe  that  the  church  has  sustained  grear  loss,  for 
want  of  ministers  nnd  elders  keeping  under  the  baptizing  power  of 
truth,  which  would  have  preserved  them  sound  in  the  faith  and 
enabled  them  to  fill  their  important  stations  with  propriety.  The 
present  day  loudly  calls  for  the  observance  of  the  injunction  of  the 
Apostle,  '  Beloved,  ])elieve  not  every  spirit,  hut  try.  the  spirits, 
whether  they  are  of  God,  becansc  many  false  prophets  are  gone  out 
into  the  world.  Hereby  know  ye  the  spirit  of  God,  every  spirit 
that  confesseth  that  Jesus  Christ  is  come  in  the  flesh  is  of  God,  and 
every  spirit  tliat  confesseth  not  that  Jesus  Christ  is  come  in  the 
flesh  is  not  of  God;  and  this  is  that  spirit  of  anti-Christ  whereof 
ye  have  heard  that  it  should  come,  and  eveii  now  already  it  is  in 
the  world.'  This  well  accords  with  a  prophetic  declaration  of 
another  Apostle,  '  There  were  false  prophets  also  among  the  i)eople, 
even  as  there  shall  be  false  teachers  among  you,  who  jn-ivily  shall 
bring  in  damnable  heresies,  even  denying  the  Lord  that  l)0ught 
them,  and  bring  upon   themselves  swift  destruction.     And   many 


7'^  JOUKXAL   OF   THOMAS    AHNETT.  1833 

shall  follow  their  pernicious  ways,  by  reason  of  wliom  the  way  of 
truth  shall  be  evil  s]3oken  of.'  This  has  been  obvious  in  the  present 
day,  and  demands  that  we  should  be  very  watchful  and  guarded 
against  every  appearance  of  this  false  doctrine.  Every  true  gospel 
minister  Avill  not  only  be  preserved  from  denying  the  Lord  that 
bought  them,  but  will  be  led  to  confess  that  Jesus  Christ  is  come 
in  the  flesh,  and  was  crucified  for  the  sins  of  tlie  world. 

"  We  earnestly  desire  that  Friends  may  labor  to  train  up  their 
children  in  greater  subordination,  in  plainness  of  dress  and  simpli- 
city of  manners,  speaking  to  them  by  their  conduct  the  emphatic 
language,  'follow  us  as  we  follow  Christ,'  and  that  they  set  a  good 
example  in  keeping  them  at  home  on  afternoons  of  the  First-day 
of  the  week,  in  reading  the  Holy  Scrii)turcs  and  othei'  suitable 
books,  and  that  they  daily  collect  their  families  for  this  purpose; 
and  we  exhort  all  our  dear  friends  in  this  part  of  the  Society  to  be 
Avatchful  in  this  day  of  so  general  excitement  on  the  all-important 
subject  of  faith  in  our  Lord  and  Savior  Jesus  Christ,  that  they  be 
careful  not  lightly  to  bring  into  view  before  our  young  ])eoplc  this 
subject,  whereby  they  may  be  encouraged  in  the  like  disposition  of 
mind  to  handle  sacred  things  with  irreverence,  and  thereby  the  sin 
of  taking  the  sacred  name  in  vain  apply  to  us." 

Our  Yearly  Meeting  also,  that  our  members  might  be  better 
instructed  in  faith  and  doctrine,  repeatedly  advised  in  its  Epistles 
that  Friends  daily  collect  their  families  to  wait  upon  the  Lord;  and 
after  a  suitable  j^ause,  to  read  a  portion  of  the  Holy  Scriptures 
with  their  minds  turned  toward  the  source  of  all  good;  and  it  has 
been  found  by  experience  that  this  practice  is  not  only  calculated 
for  religions  instruction,  but  also  for  a  deepening  in  the  root  of 
immortal  life  to  those  who  are  engaged  in  it,  in  the  faith  and  the 
hope  of  the  gospel,  and  who  are  dwelling  daily  under  the  baptism 
of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

A  concern  having  impressed  my  mind  for  a  considerable  number 
of  years  past  to  pay  a  religious  visit  to  Friends  and  othei's,  as  way 
may  open,  in  the  love  of  the  gosjiel  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ,  within  the  limits  of  Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  New  York, 
and  New  England  Yearly  Meetings  of  Friends,  and  after  passing 
through  many  preparatory  exercises  and  baptisms  under  the  Lord's 
hand  for  this  weighty  service,  and  apprehending  that  the  time  had 
come  for  me  to  enter  upon  this  arduous  engagement,  I  therefore, 
feeling  the  Avay  clear  in  my  own  mind  to  proceed,  seasonably  open- 
ed this  concern  before  our  Monthly  Meeting.  Much  unity  and 
sympathy  with  me  being  felt  and  expressed  by  my  dear  friends,  they 
gave  me  a  good  certificate,  which  I, with  my  concern  as  expressed  there- 
in, laid  before  our  next  ensuing  Quarterly  Meeting,  held  on  the 
3rd  day  of  the  Eighth  month,  18133,  and  being  there  fully  united 
with,  the  certificate  was  endorsed  according  to  the  order  of  our  re- 
ligious society,  and  much  encoui-jigement  was  given  to  me  to  pursue 


\m  JOURNA].   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT,  73 

this  important  prospect  as  the  blessed  truth  might  from  time  to 
time  east  up  the  way  for  me. 

The  prospect  of  leaving  all  that  is  near  and  dear  to  me  in  this 
life,  particularly  my  family,  which  consists  of  my  beloved  wife,  my 
dear  mother-in-law,  and  a  promising  little  daughter,  and  being  so 
long  from  home,  was  truly  a  great  cross  to  me;  but  apprehending 
that  my  peace,  both  in  time  and  eternity,  consisted  in  a  faitiiful 
obedience  to  this  concern,  I  therefore,  in  a  good  degree,  cheer- 
fully yielded  to  the  requiring  of  the  Holy  Head  of  the  Church,  be- 
lieving that  as  true  obedience  was  abode  in,  that  the  Lord  in  his  in- 
linite  mercy  and  goodness  would  preserve  and  pi-ovide  for  both  me 
and  my  family  during  the  ]irosecution  of  this  great  undertaking; 
for  the  earth  is  his  and  the  fullness  thereof,  and  he  numbers  even 
the  very  hairs  of  the  heads  of  ail  his  faithful,  dc]iendent  children. 
]ilessed  forever  be  his  name,  for  he  is  worthy  of  all  praise! 

After  I  laid  this  concern  before  our  society  and  obtained  the  ten- 
der and  precious  "unity  and  sympathy  of  my  dear  friends,  I  passed 
through  a  very  solitary  season  for  sometime;  all  within  me  was  laid 
low,  deep  poverty  of  spirit  came  upon  me  ;  I  felt  stri])ped,  and 
found  nothing  to  rest  upon  but  the  invincible  arm  of  my  dear 
Saviour,  and  when  I  looked  forward  to  the  large  field  of  labor  be- 
fore me,  in  the  love  of  the  everlasting,  gospel,  the  language  of  our 
blessed  Lord  impressively  saluted  my  mind,  ''carry  neither  purse 
iwr  scrip,  nor  shoes  ;  and  salute  no  man  by  the  way."  I  clearly 
saw  that  I  was  to  go  forth  in  the  Lord's  work,  not  in  my  own  will 
and  strength,  but  under  the  influence  and  leadings  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  moving  in  my  religious  exercises  in  that  ability  which  the 
great  Head  of  the  Church  giveth.  Prayer  and  supplication  were 
renewed  in  me  that  I  might  be  favored  to  prosecute  the  very  im- 
})ortant  engagement  before  me  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  which  is  a 
strong  tower,  and  in  which  alone  there  is  safety. 

Believing  that  the  time  had  fully  come  for  me  to  embark  on  my 
anticipated  journey,  I  therefore  put  my  outward  concerns  in  order, 
and  i>rovided  a  way  to  satisfaction  for  my  famil}^  to  live  during  my 
absence.  I  attended  our  Yearly  Meeting,  which  was  a  good,  inter- 
esting season,  the  Lord's  power  being  with  us,  where  many  dear 
friends  had  an  opportunity  to  take  their  affectionate  leave  of  me, 
in  which  they  desired  my  preservation. 

A  few  days  before  I  embarked,  I  held  a  public  farewell  meeting 
for  Friends  and  others  at  our  meeting-house,  New  Hope,  which 
was  large  and  favored  with  that  power  which  is  from  above.  This 
was  a  tendering  and  affectionate  opportunity. 

My  dear  friend  William  Osl)orn,  found  a  concern  to  be  renewed 
in  his  mind  to  travel  with  me  in  this  journe}^  as  far  as  truth  may 
open  the  way.  He  seasonably  laid  his  prospect  before  Friends  and 
obtained  their  precious  unity  Jind  symi)athy,  and  after  attending 
the  service  of  our  ensuing  Quarterly  Meeting,  we  set  out.       I  held 


74  JOUKXAL    OF    THOMAS    ARXETT.  1833 

a  general  jjublic  farewell  meeting  at  Center  on  the  ord  day  of  the 
Eleventh  month,  18o3,  being  First-day,  and  the  next  day  after  our 
Quarterly  Meeting.  This  was  a  day  which  will  long  he  remem- 
bered by  many.  I  this  morning  left  my  own  home  with  feelings 
unspeakably  tender  and  affectionate,  and  in  prayer  and  supplication 
committed  my  dear  family  to  the  jH'otecting  care  of  the  Lord 
Almighty.  I  took  a  very  aiiectionate  leave  of  my  dear  mother-in- 
law  and  beloved  little  daughter,  and  in  company  with  my  dear  wife 
and  some  other  friends  went  on  and  attended  the  ])roposed  farewell 
meeting  at  Center,  which  was  very  large  ;  in  which  I  was  drawn 
forth  in  gospel  ministry  and  in  prayer  and  supplication  to  the  ten- 
dering of  many  minds.  This  was  a  heart-melting  season.  After 
the  meeting  closed  many,  both  young  and  old,  in  tears  and  bi-oken- 
ness,  took  their  very  affectionate  leave  of  me,  fervently  desiring 
my  preservation.  My  mind  was  deeply  affected  on  this  solemn,  in- 
teresting occasion;  all  within  me,  as  it  were,  was  melted  down.  I 
besought  the  Lord  to  supjjort  me  in  a  becoming  manner  through 
this  deeply  affecting  season,  and  I  believe  that  he  remembered  me, 
and  in  his  adorable  mercy  and  goodness  preserved  me  this  day  to 
the  glory  and  honor  of  his  great  name.  May  all  pi"aise  forever  be 
ascribed  to  him  for  he  is  Avorthy!  After  I  had  given  Friends  and 
others  a  full  opportunity  to  take  their  tender  leave  of  me,  I  went 
to  the  house  of  my  dear  friend  and  brother-in-law,  William  Walker, 
and  sjient  the  ensuing  night  there  in  company  A\'it]i  my  dear  wife 
and  a  number  of  other  friends,  and  on  the  next  morning  my  com- 
panion, William  Osljorn,  met  me  there,  he  having  taken  a  tender 
and  affectionate  leave  of  his  dear  family  :  and  after  a  heart-melt- 
ing season,  I  took  my  very  tender  and  affectionate  leave  of  my  be- 
loved wife,  and  a  number  of  other  dear  friends,  and  we  set  out  in 
the  holy  fear  of  the  Lord,  and  by  the  next  First-day,  Avhicli  was 
the  10th  of  the  month,  we  rode  to  Saint  Clairsville,  and  attended 
Friends'  meeting  there,  which  was  very  small  ;  where  I  delivered  a 
few  sentences  in  much  weakness,  desiring  Friends  more  and  more 
to  be  faithful.  The  two  following  days  we  rode  to  Westland  and 
on  the  13th  attended  Friends'  Preparative  Meeting  there,  which 
was  a  good  season  to  Friends.  ^The  three  following  days  we  rode  to 
the  neighborhood  of  Friends  on  Dunning  Creek,  and  on  the  lUh, 
being  First-day,  we  attended  Friends'  meeting  there,  Avhere  I  had 
some  good  service  for  the  Lord  :  and  on  the  three  following  days 
we  rode  to  the  house  of  our  kind  friend,  John  Griffith,  in  Virginia, 
where  we  rested  the  next  day,  being  in  some  degree  wearied  with 
traveling.  My  mind,  since  Ave  set  out  on  this  journey,  has  witnessed 
various  vicissitudes,  sometimes  enjoying  very  comfortable  seasons, 
at  others  deep  mourning  Avas  renewed;  amidst  all  Avhich  I  was 
faA'ored  to  keep  low,  looking  to  Jesus  for  sup])ort,  the  author  and 
finisher  of  the  saint's  faith.    Blessed  forever  be  his  holv  name  I 


-  1833  .lOlKXAL    or   TITOMAS    AKNKTT.  75 

The  22(1.  We,  this  evening,  by  early  candle-light,  had  a  good 
open  meeting  in  Winchester,  held  in  the  Methodist  meeting-house. 
This,  througli  the  Lord's  mercy,  was  made  a  good  season  ;  the  peo- 
ple appeared  to  be  satished.  2od.  We,  this  al'tenioon,  had  a  meet- 
ing at  White  Hall,  in  the  Methodist  meeting-house,  'i'liis  was  in 
some  degree  a  ])roving  time.  'Vhe  truth,  however,  at  lengtli  arose 
to  the  humbling  of  some  minds.  The  34tli,  being  First-day,  we 
had  a  good  meeting  at  HojiewelL  I,  tlirougli  the  Lord's  mercy, 
was  favored  to  point  out  the  path  of  regeneration,  to  the  tendering 
of  many  minds.  Blessed  forever  be  the  holy  mime  of  the  Ijord  I 
2oth.  We  rode  about  thirty  miles  to  the  neighborhood  of  Goose 
Creek,  and  on  the  next  day  we  held  a  meeting  in  this  vicinity  for 
Friends  and  others  at  a  dwelling-house,  the  Hieksites  having  taken 
the  Friends'  meeting-house  here.  This  meeting  was  a  favored  time. 
The  Lord  had  mercy  on  us  and  refreshed  us  together.  27th.  We 
had  a  meeting  at  South  Fork,  where  I  was  drawn  to  bear  the  Lord's 
testimony,  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  well-minded.  The  forgetful 
were  called  to  repentance  and  amendment  of  life.  2Sth.  I  was 
yesterday  taken  a  good  deal  unwell  with  a  severe  cold.  I  was  so 
indisposed  in  body  througli  the  past  night  that  I  slept  but  little. 
I  besought  the  Lord  to  have  mei'cy  x\\:)on  me  and  enable  me  to  go 
forth  according  to  his  will.  I  felt  fnlly  resigned  to  him.  Blessed 
forever  be  his  name  !  We  this  day  again  attended  Friends'  little 
meeting  of  Goose  Creek,  being  their  mid-week  meeting  in  coarse. 
We  felt  small,  but  were  favored  to  feel  together  for  the  arising  of 
truth.  We  this  evening  held  a  meeting  in  the  town  of  Waterford, 
in  the  Presbyterian  meeting-house.  I  attended  this  meeting  with 
much  indisposition  of  body.  I  felt  very  poor,  but  the  Lord  had 
mercy  on  us  this  evening.  This  meeting  was  large  and  eminently 
owned  by  the  great  Head  of  the  Church.  I  was  enabled  to  treat 
on  the  doctrine  of  human  redemption,  to  good  satisfaction.  The 
people  were  quiet  and  attentive,  and  the  meeting  ended  well.  The 
two  following  days  we  rode  to  Alexandria,  and  wei'e  kindly  received 
and  entertained  ijy  our  dear  friend  Andrew  Schofiield. 

Twelfth  month  1st.  Being  First-day,  we  rode  to  Washington  City, 
and  attended  Friends'  little  meeting  in  this  city,  which,  through 
the  Lord's  tender  mercy,  was  made  a  good,  refreshing  season.  My 
health  was  now  some  better,  for  Avhich  I  was  tiiankful  to  the  Lord. 
The  2d,  we  rode  about  thirty  miles  to  Indian  Spring,  and  on  the  3d 
held  a  meeting  there,  the  forepart  of  which  was  a  low  time  ;  but  by 
keejoing  the  eye  single  to  the  Lord,  he  at  length  arose  in  a  good 
degree  to  the  refreshing  of  our  minds.     Blessed  be  his  name  ! 

The  4th.  We  set  out  this  morning,  and  j"ode  to  the  city  of  Balti- 
more, and  the  next  day,  being  the  Monthly  Meeting  time  of  Friends 
in  this  city,  we  attended  it,  to  good  satisfaction.  Friends  were 
very  glad  to  see  us.  I  this  day  h;id  some  good  service  for  the  Lord. 
Praised  be  his  name  I     We,  the  two  following  days,  paid  a  friendly 


76  JOURXAL    OF   THOMAS    AKXETT.  1833 

visit  to  a  number  of  families  of  Friends  in  this  city,  in  gospel  love, 
and  found  a  number  of  very  interesting  Friends  here,  with  whom 
my  mind  was  united  in  a  measure  of  that  pure  love  which  death 
itself  can  never  extinguish.  We  sympathized  one  with  another 
while  participating  in  these  visits,  in  that  pure  gospel  fellowship  by 
whicli  we  are  mutually  strengthened  in  the  faith  and  the  hope  of 
the  gospel  of  Christ.  We  found  some  dear  young  Friends  in  this 
splendid  city  who  live  a  self-denying  life,  who  are  well  informed  ; 
and  by  ]iatiently  submitting  to  the  blessed  cross  of  Christ,  and 
minding  the  teachings  of  the  good  spirit  of  God,  they  have  obtained 
a  good  degree  of  religious  experience  ;  and  I  believe  that  as  they 
abide  under  the  Lord's  fpialifying  liand,  looking  to  him  with  a 
single  eye  in  true  Christian  faith,  that  they  will  be  brought  forward 
in  due  time  to  be  very  useful  members  of  our  religious  society. 
May  the  Great  Shej^herd  of  the  sheep  bless  them  for  ever  I 

The  8th.  Being  First-day,  we  attended  the  morning  and  after- 
noon meetings  of  Friends  in  this  city.  At  the  morning  meeting 
my  mind  was  in  a  good  degree  opened  in  public  testimony,  to  the 
relief  of  my  own  mind  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  friends ;  and  at 
the  afternoon  meeting  my  mind  was  much  cast  down  in  the  fore 
part ;  in  the  latter  part  truth  in  some  degree  arose,  so  tliat  the 
meeting  ended  with  prayer  and  supplication  to  God.  On  the  next 
day  we  rode  to  the  neighborhood  of  Friends  of  Gunpowder,  and  on 
the  10th  held  a  public  meeting  for  worship  here,  which,  through 
divine  goodness,  was  made  an  open  opportunity  for  the  testimony 
of  truth.  On  the  11th  we  returned  to  Baltimore,  and  attended  the 
select  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends  in  this  city  this  afternoon, 
Avhich,  through  the  protecting  care  and  mercy  of  the  Great  Head  of 
the  Church,  was  made  a  baptizing  season  ;  our  minds  were  refreshed 
through  the  overshadowing  power  of  the  gospel.  There  was  in  this 
meeting  an  aged  ministering  woman  Friend  of  this  city,  who  was 
enabled  m  the  Lord's  revealing  power  to  point  out  to  mo  many  of 
my  religious  exercises  and  deep  inward  conflicts  since  I  left  home. 
Her  mind  was  led  into  deep  sympathy  with  me  in  this  meeting,  and 
she  spoke  very  encouragingly  to  me,  fervently  desiring  that  I  may 
be  fully  given  up  to  the  Lord  on  every  hand,  and  be  willing  to  pass 
through  every  ba])tism  that  he  may  for  my  good  be  pleased  to  lead 
me  into  ;  and  I  believe  that  tlie  whole  meeting  was  led  with  her  in 
feeling  sympathy  with  me,  for  much  encouragment  was  given  me 
in  this  meeting.  Blessed  forever  be  the  name  of  the  Lord,  who 
still  reveals  his  will  to  his  faithful,  obedient  and  dependent  chil- 
dren ! 

The  12th.  We  this  day  attended  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends 
for  discipline  in  this  city,  in  which  my  mind  was  much  opened  in 
gospel  testimony.  I  was  exercised  to  encourage  F'riends  to  be  faith- 
ful unto  death,  that  the  crown  immortal  may  be  obtained.  The 
meeting  for  discipline  was  well  conducted,  and  ended  to  satisfac- 


1833  JOUENAL   OF   THOMAS    AKXETT.  77 

tion.  The  13th.  We  tliis  morning  left  the  city  of  Baltimore  and 
rode  about  thirty  miles  to  tlie  neigliborliood  of  Deer  Creek,  where 
we  continued  the  next  day  at  a  Friend's  house.  Tiiis  day  I  sjient  in 
writing  and  religious  meditation.  The  loth,  being  First-day,  we 
attended  Deer  Creek  JNIecting  of  Friends,  which  was  a  time  of  some 
divine  favor.  The  IGth.  Ave  rode  about  ten  miles  to"  tlie  house  of 
our  dear  friend  Thomas  Waring,  and  on  the  next  day  we  had  an 
appointed  meeting  at  his  house,  Avhich  was  vei'y  small  on  account 
of  the  inclemency  of  the  weather  ;  but  the  Lord  remembered  the 
few  who  were  met,  and  refreshed  us  together.  The  18th.  We  held 
a  good,  open  meeting  this  day  at  the  house  of  our  dear  friend  Joseph 
Ballance.  The  19th,  we  had  a  pretty  good  meeting  at  the  house  of 
our  kind  friend  David  Griscom.  This  was  a  refreshing  and  uniting 
season  to  the  few  Friends  who  Avere  present. 

In  passing  through  the  meetings  of  Baltimore  Yearly  Meeting 
my  mind  Avas  often  brought  doAvn  in  deep  mourning  to  sym])athize 
with  those  who  had  to  Aveep  Avith  the  op])resscd  seed.  Our  Society 
being  verA"  much  stripped  Avithin  the  limits  of  this  Yearly  Meeting, 
iu  consequence  of  the  late  separation,  therefore  Friends  in  these 
parts  have  often  to  suffer  Avith  the  suffering,  oppressed  seed  ;  and 
iu  this  suffering  it  Avas  my  lot  to  participate  in  passing  through 
these  parts.  I  had  often  to  mourn  Avith  the  oppressed  seed  in 
otliers.  The  Hicksites  have  taken  most  of  Friends'  meeting-liouses 
within  the  limits  of  this  Yearly  Meeting,  and  have  also,  not  only 
on  this  account,  but  in  many  other  resjiects,  subjected  Friends  to 
many  serious  trials  ;  and  although  these  trials  have  fallen  u])on  this 
Yearly  Meeting,  yet  there  are  some  solid  and  very  interesting  Friends 
in  these  parts,  avIio  endure  the  cross  of  Christ  and  stand  forth  in 
support  of  our  A^arious  testimonies. 

Having  visited  most  of  the  meetings  of  Baltimore  Yearly  Meet- 
ing, Ave  proceeded  on  to  the  meetings  of  Philadelphia  Yearly  Meet- 
ing, and  on  the  21st  Ave  had  a  meeting  at  FalloAvfield,  Avhich, 
through  the  opening  of  gospel  love,  was  made  a  baptizing  season. 
All  praise  forever  be  ascribed  to  God!  The  22d,  being  First-day,  Ave 
attended  London  Grove  meeting  for  worshij),  held  at  Isaac  Pusey's, 
Avhere  my  mind  was  opened  in  gosi)el  love  to  declare  the  truth  to  a 
good  degree  of  satisfaction. 

The  six  foUoAving  days  Ave  held  appointed  meetings  on  each  day 
iu  the  folloAving  manner,  viz:  1st  at  West  Grove,  2d  at  Spencey 
Meeting  (so-called),  3d  at  New  Garden,  4th  at  Kennet,  5th  at  the 
dAvelling  house  of  Mary  Brinton,  and  Gth  at  Ilokessin;  all  these 
meetings  Avere  times  of  divine  favor  and  refreshment  from  the  pres- 
ence of  the  Lord!     Blessed  forever  be  His  holy  name! 

The  29th,  being  First-day,  we  attended  the  morning  meeting  of 
Friends  of  AVilmington,  Avhich,  through  divine  mercy,  Avas  made  a 
good  season.  30th.  We  this  day  attended  Chester  Monthly  Meet- 
ing, held  at  Springfield,  where  I  found  some  good  service  for  the 


78  JOIHXAL    OF    THOMAS    AKXETT.  1834 

Lord.  '31st,  We  were  at  Diirby  Monthly  Meeting,  wliicli,  though 
small,  was  made,  through  divine  regard,  a  good  season.  We  after 
meeting  dined  at  Xathan  Garrett's,  and  my  dear  friend  and  com- 
panion, William  Osborn,  being  so  indisposed  in  body  that  it  was 
thought  best  for  him  to  stop  here  and  rest  a  while,  in  order  to  take 
medicine  for  the  improvement  of  his  health,  I  therefore,  for  this 
purpose,  left  him  a  while*  under  the  tender  care  and  sympathy  of 
friends  of  this  kind  and  worthy  family,  where  both  the  parents  and 
the  children  live  consistent  with  our  lioly  profession.  May  the  Lord 
bless  them  forever! 

First  month,  first,  1834.  I  this  day  (having  suitable  company  in 
the  room  of  my  companion)  attended  Hirmingham  Monthly  Meet- 
ing, hold  at  Westchester,  and  in  weakness  found  some  service  for 
the  Lord,  It  was  my  lot  this  evening  to  go  down  into  deep  suffer- 
ing of  mind  before  the  Lord,  The  exercises  which  came  u])on  me 
cannot  be  well  described  by  language,  No  one  in  this  world  can 
know  them  without  going  down  in  the  spirits  of  the  mind  and  par- 
ticipating in  them  in  true  suffering  and  so'f-abasement.  All  within 
me  was  laid  very  low;  I  bowed  in  self-abhorrence  before  God  and 
entered  into  a  solemn  retrospect  of  my  past  life,  and  had  cause  rev- 
erently to  acknowledge  the  preservation  and  protection  of  divine 
mercy  and  goodness;  and  under  a  renewed  sense  of  my  own  imper- 
fections, and  of  the  majesty  and  the  power  of  the  Lord,  my  prayer 
was:  "Sanctify  me,  0  Lord,  and  more  and  more  fit  me  for  service 
in  the  militant  church;  sustain  me  on  every  liand.  and  let  not  Thy 
holy  cause  suffer  on  my  account.  Let  me  more  and  more  be  de- 
voted to  a  holy  and  self-denying  life  before  Thee,  so  that  I  may 
have  no  will  of  my  own,  but  be  altogether  devoted  to  Thy  holy  and 
blessed  will  throughout  this  life.  Deal  with  me  as  it  may  seem 
good  to  Thee,  and  keep  me  daily  under  Thy  baptizing  power," 
2d,  I  this  day  attended  Goshen  Monthly  Meeting,  where  the  Lord 
was  pleased  to  arise  and  visit  His  faithful  and  dependent  children, 
to  our  comfort  and  edification.  Blessed  be  Ilis  name,  I  this  even- 
ing held  a  meeting  at  West-town  for  the  conductors  and  students  of 
that  institution.  This  was,  through  divine  mercy,  truly  a  very  in- 
teresting meeting;  the  Lord's  power  ))eing  present,  we  had  a  bap- 
tizing season.  My  mind  was  much  opened  in  gospel  ministry,  and 
in  prayer  and  supplication.  I  trust  tliat  this  was  a  season  that  will 
not  be  soon  forgotten. 

3d.  Attended  Concord  Monthly  fleeting,  and  had  some  good 
service,  and  on  the  next  day  was  at  Wilmington  Monthly  Meeting, 
where  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  give  His  good  presence.  Blessed  be 
His  name!  5th.  Being  First-day,  I  held  a  public  appointed  meet- 
ing in  Wilmington,  which  was  eminently  owned  by  the  good  pres- 
ence of  the  Lord ;  doctrine  went  forth  to  the  edification  of  many. 
All  praise  forever  be  ascribed  to  Him  who  shutteth  and  no  man 
can  oiien,  and  openeth  and  no  man  can  shut!     Oth.     I  this  day  re- 


1834  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    AUXKTT.  79 

turned  to  Nathan  Garrett's  to  see  my  dear  friend  and  companion, 
and  found  him  still  indisposed  in  body,  where  I  spent  the  next  day 
in  writing  and  meditation.  8th.  I  set  out  this  morning,  having 
suitable  company,  my  companion  not  being  able  to  travel,  and  at- 
tended Chester  Meeting  of  Friends,  which,  through  the  Lord's 
adoraljle  mercy,  was  made  a  precious  season.  Here  I  met  with  my 
dear  friend  Isaac  Hammer,  of  Tennessee,  who  was  on  his  way  home, 
having  been  out  several  months  on  a  religious  visit;  he  had  good 
service  for  the  Lord  in  this  meeting.  This  dear  friend,  who  is  a 
minister  in  unity  amongst  Friends,  has  traveled  much  in  truth's 
service,  both  in  America  and  Europe,  to  good  satisfaction.  While 
"we  were  together  here  we  had  true  sympathy  for  each  other,  and 
we  parted  in  that  love  which  is  experienced  in  the  fellowship  of  the 
gospel  of  Christ.  9th.  A  day  of  some  proving;  attended  Friends' 
meeting  of  Middletown.  I  had  some  service  for  the  Lord.  The 
meeting  ended  pretty  well.  This  evening  sorrow  of  mind  was  my 
portion.  Oh  I  that  I  may  be  faithful  in  enduring  hardness  for 
Christ's  sake.  10th.  Had  a  good  open  meeting  at  Chichester. 
Blessed  be  the  Lord  I  11th.  Through  divine  mercy,  had  a  good 
baptizing  meeting  at  Birmingham.   Blessed  be  the  Lord  I 

r2th,  being  First-day,  I  attended  Westchester  meeting  of  Friends, 
and  was  opened  in  gospel  ministry  to  a  good  degree  of  satisfaction. 
Here  my  dear  friend  Jesse  J.  Maris,  of  Chester  Meeting  of  Friends, 
met  me,  in  order  to  travel  with  me  a  while,  in  whose  company  on 
the  next  day  I  went  to  the  house  of  Jeflrey  Smedley,  a  worthy 
Friend  of  Willistown,  where  I  met  with  my  dear  friend  and  com- 
panion, W^illiam  Osborn,  whose  health  had  a  little  improved  ;  but, 
it  being  found  that  traveling  does  not  agree  with  him,  lie  appre- 
hended that  it  would  be  best  for  him  to  return  home.  This  pros- 
pect he  now  opened  to  me  for  consideration.  It  was  no  small  trial 
to  me  to  give  him  up,  since  we  had  traveled  together  in  the  fellow- 
ship and  unity  of  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  .Jesus  Christ ; 
but  after  a  time  of  solid  deliberation  I  became  willing  ibr  him  to 
go.  and  he  concluded  to  return  home.  On  the  14th  we  held  a  meet- 
ing in  this  neighborhood  at  Friends'  meeting-house,  which,  through 
the  Lord's  good  presence,  was  made  a  heavenly  season.  After  meet- 
ing I  took  a  very  affectionate  leave  of  my  dear  friend  and  compan- 
ion.    May  the  Lord  bless  him,  both  in  time  and  eternity ! 

The  four  following  days,  in  company  with  .Jesse  J.  Maris,  [  had 
meetings  at  Whiteland,  Bradford,  Downingstown  and  Michlan. 
These  meetings  were  well  attened  by  Friends  and  others,  and  were 
eminentl}'  owned  by  the  protecting  Shepherd  of  Israel.  The  Lord 
was  with  me,  and  enabled  me  to  deliver  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel 
to  the  people  to  good  satisfaction.  After  these  meetings,  for  a  while, 
I  enjoyed  perfect  peace  and  consolation  of  mind,  in  which  I  sang 
secret  praises  to  the  (Jod  of  my  salvation. 

The  19th,  being  First-day,  we  had  a  meeting  at  Nantsville.    My 


80  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKXETT.  1834 

mind,  after  a  time  of  much  exercise,  was  favored  to  enter  into  feel- 
ing- with  the  people  and  to  deliver  doctrine  suitable  to  their  situa- 
tion and  condition.  The  20th,  we  had  a  large  meeting  at  East 
Cain,  where  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  send  forth  his  testimony  to 
the  humbling  and  edifying  of  many  minds.  Praised  forever  be 
his  great  name,  for  he  is  worthy  I  The  21st,  we  had  a  meeting  at 
West  Cain,  where  the  life  of  pure  religion  was  at  a  low  ebb.  I  was 
favored  to  release  my  mind  to  pretty  good  satisfaction.  The  22d, 
we  had  an  open,  baptizing  meeting  at  East  Sadsbury,  and 
on  the  2od,  we  had  a  highly  favored  meeting  at  West  Sadsbury. 
I  believe  that  the  everlasting  gospel  went  forth  in  this  meeting  to 
the  glory  and  honor  of  the  name  of  God,  to  whom  be  given  all 
praise  forevermorc  I  The  24:th,  we  had  a  pretty  good  open  meet- 
ing at  Lampeter,  and  after  meeting  we  went  home  with  Hannah 
Gibbens,  who  some  years  ago  buried  her  husband.  She  is  a  worthy 
Friend.  I  was  drawn  into  near  and  dear  sympathy  with  her  and 
her  children,  who  appeared  to  be  under  the  preparing  hand  of 
truth  for  service  in  the  church.  May  the  Lord  bless  this  family 
forever  !  The  25th,  we  travelled  about  twelve  miles  to  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Bart,  and  on  the  next  day,  being  First-day,  we  held  a 
meeting  here  for  Friends  and  others,  to  good  satisfaction.  My 
mind  was  led  to  treat  on  doctrine.  I  trust  to  edification.  We  this 
afternoon  and  the  next  day,  which  was  the  2Tth,  returned  to  the 
house  of  our  dear  friend,  Jeffrey  Smedley,  and  on  the  28th,  in  the 
morning,  my  dear  friend,  Jesse  S.  Maris,  took  his  affectionate 
leave  ol'  me  and  returned  home,  Ave  having  traveled  together 
awhile  in  perfect  unity.  I  spent  this  day  in  writing  and  medita- 
tion. The  29th.  I  this  day  rode  several  miles  to  the  house  of  my 
dear  friend,  Jacob  Maule,  and  on  the  next  day  had  a  good  open 
meeting  at  his  house.  The  31st.  I  held  a  meeting  this  dav  at 
Haverford,  which  was,  through  divine  goodness,  made  a  baptizing 
season.  Blessed  forever  be  the  name  of  the  Lord  !  The  Second 
month,  1st.  I  this  day  attended  the  select  Quarterly.  Meeting  of 
ministers  and  elders  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  and  was  silent.  2d, 
being  First-day,  I  this  morning  attended  the  Northern  district 
meeting  of  Friends,  which  was  large  and  much  favored  with  gospel 
testimony.  My  mind  was  much  oi)ened  in  this  meeting  in  the  love 
of  the  everlasting  gospel.  In  the  afternoon  I  attended  Arch  street 
meeting  of  Friends,  and  found  it  to  be  my  duty  to  wait  in  silence 
before  "the  Lord.  The  3d.  I  this  day  attended  the  Quarterly 
Meeting  of  Friends  of  Philadelphia,  in  which  much  business  was 
transacted  in  a  weighty  and  becoming  manner.  I  found  it  to  be 
my  jilace  to  wait  in  silence  before  the  Lord  while  in  this  meeting. 
I  this  evening  received  a  letter  from  home,  which  informed  me 
of  the  death  of  my  dear  little  daughter,  which  to  me  was  a  very 
deep  and  close  trial,  and  friends  of  this  city  finding  that  I  was  bro- 
ken down  in  tenderness  and  tears  on  account  of  this  deep  trial, 


18:{4  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARXETT.  81 

h;ul  much  sympathy  with  me  and  oiiconragcd  me  not  to  be  cast 
(lowu,  hut  to  go  lorth  in  the  Lord's  work  as  way  may  0])en.  I 
hc'souglit  the  Lord  to  liave  mej'cy  on  me  and  to  support  mc  in  this 
great  "trial,  and  after  a  little  settling  down  in  my  mind  before  him, 
I  was  favored  to  say  in  perfect  resignation  to  his  will,  "  The  Lord 
gave  and  the  Lord  hath  taken  away,  blessed  be  the  name  of  the 
Lord."  Oh  !  how  I  desired  this  evening  to  live  nigh  to  the  God  of 
my  salvation  while  in  this  poor  world,  for  there  is  nothing  worth 
living  for  in  this  poor  world  l)ut  to  serve  him  with  a  perfect  heart 
and  With  a  willing  mind,  and  to  prepare  for  the  mansion  of  ever- 
lasting rest.  Oh  I  God,  I  pray  thee  more  and  more  to  sanctify  my 
trials  and  conflicts,  and  cause  all  things  to  work  together  for  my 
Lood,  and  preserve  me  on  every  hand,  for  without  thee  I  can  do 
nothing.  Thy  will  and  not  mine  be  done  in  all  things  concerning 
me.     Amen. 

On  the  -trth,  I  held  a  meeting  at  Marion,  where  the  Lord  was 
pleased  to  give  me  a  short  testimony  for  the  people.  The  meeting- 
ended  with  prayer.  I  this  afternoon  rode  to  Germantown  and 
spent  this  evening  in  writing  a  letter  to  my  dear  wife,  apprehend- 
ing that  the  death  of  our  dear  little  daughter  was  a  close  trial  to 
her  as  well  as  to  me.  She  therefore  feeling  renewedly  near  to  me 
this  evening,  I  was  favored  to  write  to  her,  encouraging  her  to  look 
to  the  Lord  for  support  in  time  of  deep  and  close  trial.  On  the 
otii  and  6th,  I  attended  the  service  of  Abington  Quarterly  Meeting 
held  at  this  i)lace,  wherein  it  was  my  duty  to  wait  in  silence,  exeejit 
a  few  words  which  I  delivered  in  gospel  love  in  the  meeting  for 
business.  Oh  I  that  I  may  be  faithful  and  closely  mind  the  iioint- 
ings  of  truth  in  thus  going  forth  before  the  Lord,  for  of  myself  I 
can  do  nothing  that  will  redound  to  the  glory  of  his  name.  On 
the  7th,  I  held  a  meeting  at  Frankford,  and  on  the  8th  I  also  held 
one  at  Byberry.  At  both  of  these  meetings  the  Lord  was  ])leased 
to  be  with  me  and  to  open  my  mouth  in  gospel  testimony  to  the 
praise  of  his  great  name.  Oh  !  that  I  may  ever  be  humble  befoi'c 
him,  and  give  him  all  the  praise  for  his  wonderful  dealing  with  mc, 
for  he  hath  been  very  gracious  to  my  poor  soul. 

The  lith,  being  First-day,  I  attended  Abington  meeting  of 
Friends  and  found  much  good  service  for  the  Lord.  This  was, 
through  divine  mercy,  a  good  and  heavenly  meeting.  The  10th,  I  had 
a  meeting  at  Plymouth,  which  was  large  and  much  favored  with  the 
doctrine  of  truth.  Praised  be  the  Lord  forever  !  The  11th,  I  had  a 
meeting  at  Gwynedd,  which,  although  it  was  small,  was  much 
favored  with  gospel  ministry  and  with  prayer.  Here  my  dear 
friend,  Kobert  Scotton,  joined  me  in  order  to  travel  with  me 
awhile.  He  is  a  minister  in  good  esteem  amongst  Friends.  I  hav- 
ing been  conducted  from  meeting  to  meeting  for  some  days  past  by 
different  Friends.  12tli,  we  had  a  small  meeting  at  Horseham,  and 
were   favored  to  deliver   the   testimony   of  truth   to   satisfaction. 


82  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  1834 

The  13th,  we  had  a  hirge  meeting  at  Plumpstead,  which  was  favored 
with  tlie  doctrine  of  the  everhisting  gosjiel,  to  the  liumbling  of 
many  minds.  Blessed  forever  be  the  name  of  God  I  The  14th,  we 
liad  a  small  meeting  at  Solebury,  in  which  I  bore  a  short  testimony 
and  was  much  favored  in  ])rayer  and  supplication.  I  have  cause  to 
sing  praises  to  thee,  0,  Lord,  for  thou  hast  dealt  wonderfully  with 
me.  Thou  hast  been  with  me  in  many  trials,  and  hast  wrought  many 
deliverances  for  me.  Thou  hast  done  great  things  for  me,  whereof 
I  am  glad.  Thou  knowest  the  sincerity  and  integrity  of  my  heart. 
0  I  therefore,  I  beseech  thee  to  preserve  and  sustain  me  on  every 
hand,  and  establish  me  in  thine  everlasting  truth,  and  from  time  to 
time  give  me  ability  to  suJffer  for  thy  testimony  and  to  go  forth 
before  thee  in  the  way  of  thy  requiring.  More  and  more  sanctify 
me  and  tit  me  for  thy  work.  All  praise  is  thine  both  now  and  for- 
ever.    Amen. 

The  15th  we  had  a  meeting  at  Buckingham  which  was  large,  and 
the  Lord's  power  being  present,  I  was  favored  to  proclaim  the  glad 
tidings  of  the  everlasting  gospel.  ICth,  being  First-day,  Ave  had  a 
meeting  at  Wrightstown,  which  in  the  fore  part  was  a  low  time,  but 
the  Lord  at  length  was  pleased  to  arise  and  authorize  his  testimony 
to  go  forth  to  the  glory  of  his  name.  The  17th,  we  had  a  small 
meeting  at  Middletown,  which  was  a  time  of  some  proving,  way 
opened  however  for  some  service  for  the  Lord.  The  18th,  we  had  a 
meeting  at  Bristol,  which,  through  the  Lord's  adorable  power  was 
made  a  precious  season.  The  10th,  we  had  a  large  and  favored 
meeting  at  Falsington,  the  Lord's  testimony  went  forth  to  comfort 
and  edification.  We,  after  meeting,  went  home  with  our  dear  and 
worthy  friend  Christopher  Kealy,  where  we  were  entertained  all 
night  to  our  satisfaction  and  strength.  This  beloved  friend  has  trav- 
eled much  in  truth's  service  to  good  satisfaction,  both  in  America 
also  in  old  England  ;  he  was  this  evening  drawn  into  near  and  dear 
sympathy  with  me,  and  encouraged  me  patiently  to  go  forth  in  the 
Lord's  work,  submitting  to  all  my  trials  in  his  name.  This  was  indeed 
to  me  a  heart-melting  opjDortunity.  May  the  Lord's  name  be  praised 
forever  morel  The  20th,  we  attended  Trenton  Preparative  Meeting 
of  Friends,  which  was  small  and  weak,  but  the  Lord  remembered 
us  in  his  goodness  and  mercy.  The  21st,  we  had  a  meeting  at  Cross- 
Avick's,  Avhich,  after  a  time  of  trial  and  hard  struggle  in  the  mind 
against  the  darts  of  the  enemy,  truth  in  a  good  degree  arose  in 
dominion.  Blessed  forever  be  the  Lord  I  22d,  we  had  a  meeting  at 
Mansfield,  where  truth's  testimony  Avcnt  forth  to  edification. 

The  23d,  being  First-day,  Ave  attended  Upper  Springfield  meeting 
of  Friends,  Avhicli  Avas  small.  We  were  favored  to  encourage  Friends 
to  be  more  faithful.  We,  after  meeting,  Avent  to  the  house  of  our 
dear  and  aged  friend  John  Cox,  Avhere  avc  Avere  entertained  all  night 
to  good  satisfaction.  This  dear  friend  informed  us  that  he  Avas  this 
day  eighty  years  of  age.    AVe  Avere  edified  in  his  company.    He  is  a 


1834  JOUENAL   OF   THOMAS    AIINETT.  83 

minister  in  ffood  esteem  amon<rst  Friends,  and  appears  to  stand  as 
a  prince  in  Israel.  The  24tli,  we  were  at  Burlington  Quarterly 
Meeting  of  ministers  and  elders,  through  which  I  sat  in  suffering 
silence,  beseeching  the  Lord  in  the  secret  of  my  mind  to  have  mercy 
on  me  and  to  preserve  me  on  every  hand  Avhile  in  this  life.  The 
:35th.  This  was  a  day  which  will  be  remembered  bv  me.  We  attended 
Burlington  Quarterly  Meeting  for  worship  and  discipline.  This  was 
a  solid  meeting,  the  Lord's  presence  prevailed.  In  the  meeting  for  wor- 
ship several  short,  living  testimonies  were  borne  by  divers  Friends  ; 
and  in  the  meeting  for  discipline  Friends  were  favored  to  move  with' 
harmony  and  condescension.  I  was  concerned  in  this  meeting  to 
encourage  Friends  to  be  more  faithful,  and  to  maintain  our  testi- 
mony of  silent  waiting  upon  God  in  the  faith  and  hope  of  the  gospel 
of  Christ,  and  to  mind  the  teaching  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  The  meet- 
ing held  long,  and  closed  with  thankfulness  to  the  Great  Head  of 
the  Church.  I  this  evening  affectionately  parted  with  my  dear  friend 
Eubcrt  Scotton,  who  has  traveled  with  me  about  two  weeks  past,  to 
good  satisfaction;  and  my  dear  friend  Thomas  Wister,  Jr.,' of 
Abmgton,  met  me  here  in  order  to  join  me  in  this  journey  for  s'ome 
time. 

The  three  following  days  we  held  public  meetings  for  worship  at 
Ancocus,  Old  Springfield,  and  Mount  Holly.  These  meetings  were 
eminently  favored  with  the  good  presence  of  the  Lord,  his  truth 
went  forth  to  the  humbling  of  many  minds.  Blessed  forever  be  his 
great  and  holy  name! 

The  Third  mo.  1st.  I,  in  the  forenoon,  attended  Evesham  Pre- 
])arative  Meeting  of  ministers  and  elders,  where  my  mind  was  favored 
to  go  down  in  profound  silence  before  the  Lord.  I  was  imi)ressed 
with  a  sense  of  his  majesty,  glory  and  jiower,  and  saw  the  great 
necessity  of  livmg  nigh  him  in  the  spirit  of  my  mind,  and  of  i)ray- 
mg  to  hini  without  ceasing,  in  order  to  ex])erience  true  preservation 
on  every  hand  while  in  this  life.  Oh  !  that  I  may  be  more  and  more 
devoted  to  him,  having  no  will  of  my  own.  In  the  afternoon  we 
had  a  meeting  at  Easton,  which,  through  true  wisdom,  was  made  a 
pretty  good  opportunity.  The  2d,  being  First-day,  we  attended 
Evesharn  meeting  for  worship  and  found  much  good  service  for  the 
Lord.  The  three  following  days  we  held  i)ublic  meetings  for  wor- 
ship at  Upper  Evesham,  Cropwell,  and  Morestowu.  These  meetings 
were  large  and  much  favored  with  doctrine;  encouragement  was  given 
to  the  true-hearted,  and  admonition  to  the  slothful.  All  jiraise  for- 
ever be  ascribed  to  him  who  liveth  forevermore  !  We  had  the  very 
acceptable  company  of  our  dear  friend  Hinchman  Haines  at  the  five 
last-mentioned  meetings,  in  all  which  he  had  good  service  for  the 
Lord.  He  is  a  minister  m  good  esteem  amongst  Friends,  and  has 
traveled  much  in  truth's  service,  to  good  satisfaction.  The  Gth,  we 
attended  Westfield  Preparative  Meeting,  which,  though  small,  was 
made  a  good  baptizing  season.    Blessed  be  the  Lord  forever! 


84  JOURXAL    OF   THOMAS    ARXETT.  1834 

The  7tli.  we  had  a  meeting  at  Newtown,  where  the  Lord  gave  me 
good  service.  Our  dear  friends  AVilliam  Evans,  and  his  wife,  of  Phil- 
adelphia, who  are  ministers  in  good  esteem  amongst  Friends,  attended 
this  meeting,  and  they  had  good  service  for  the  Lord.  We  tliis 
afternoon  rode  to  the  honse  of  onr  dear  and  very  kind  friend  Joseph 
Whitacre,  and  had  the  tender  sympathy  of  him  and  his  family  while 
we  were  entertained  there.  This  is  a  worthy  Friend,  being  a  minister 
in  very  good  standing  in  onr  Society,  and  having  traveled  much  in 
truth's  service,  to  very  good  satisfaction.  He  was  one  of  the  first  who 
detected  Elias  Hicks  and  his  followers  in  their  spurious  doctrine, 
and  has  stood  firm  against  the  flood  of  infidelity  which  has  been 
poured  in  upon  our  Society  ;  he  is  a  good  judge  of  faith  and  doc- 
trine, and  is  well  acquainted  with  the  discipline  of  our  Society. 

The  8th,  we  made  about  twenty-five  miles,  to  the  neighborhood  of 
Salem,  and  the  next  day  being  First-day,  we  attended  Friends' 
meeting  for  worship  there,  which  was  a  low  time;  I  had  a  little 
service  but  not  to  the  relief  of  my  mind.  I  was  this  day  brought 
into  deep  feeling  of  mind  :  the  spirit  of  mourning  and  lamentation 
was  my  companion  ;  my  heart  cried  to  the  Lord,  saying,  I  beseech 
thee,  oh,  God,  more  and  more  to  sanctify  me  and  fit  me  for  thy 
work  ;  all  my  sorrows  are  known  to  thee,  and  thou  art  alone  able  to 
-preserve  me  through  them;  thou  knowest  that  I  love  thee,  and  desire 
to  go  through  life  according  to  thy  will ;  try  me  and  search  me,  and 
establish  me  with  thee  forever,  and  more  and  more  take  away  from 
me  all  the  fear  of  man,  that  I  may  go  forth  in  the  demonstration 
of  thy  power,  declaring  the  glad  tidings  of  the  gospel  to  the  glory 
and  honor  of  thy  great  name. 

The  10th  we  "had  a  small  meeting  at  Pilesgrove,  which,  througli 
the  Lord's  helping  hand,  was  made  a  good  and  precious  season. 
11th.  We  had  a  good  o[ien  meeting  at  Woodbury;  the  Lord's  tes- 
timony went  forth  with  power  and  to  edification.  12th.  I  was 
this  day  brought  down  in  the  spirit  of  my  mind,  in  deef  judgment 
before  Him  Avho  liveth  forever  and  ever;  the  language'of  my  heart 
was,  "he  hath  led  me  and  brought  me  into  darkness,  but  not  into 
light."  Oh!  how  j^oor  I  felt,  and  how  necessary  I  conceived  it  to 
be  to  be  ])atient,  and  to  abide  in  true  stillness  while  under  this 
deep  baptism,  for  the  Lord's  hand  was  upon  me  in  judgment, 
bringing  my  mind  into  a  participation  with  the  afflictions  and 
conliicts  of  his  devoted,  faitbful  2^Goi)le,  and  causing  me  to  feel  a 
sense  of  the  awful  condition  of  a  f\dlcn  and  wicked  world.  Truly 
this  Avas  a  day  of  great  fear  and  trembling  with  me  before  him  who 
knoweth  the  secret  of  every  heart,  and  who  causes  all  things  to 
work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love  him.  This  was  one  of 
the  most  conflicting  seasons,  in  baptism,  to  my  mind,  that  I  ever 
witnessed,  in  which  I  was  favored,  through  divine  mercy,  to  rely 
alone  on  the  truth  for  protection;  knowing  that  those  who  ride  the 
King's  horse  and  go  forth  in  the  power  of  inscrutable  wisdom  to 


1834  JOUJIXAL   OF   THOMAS   AKNETT.  85 

declare  the  glad  tidings  of  the  gospel,  must  again  and  again  be 
dismounted,  and  sit  at  the  King's  gate,  and  be  dismantled,  and  eat, 
as  it  were,  tlic  roll  of  the  book,  written  within  and  without,  con- 
taining '*  lamentations,  and  mourning  and  woe;"  and  here  they  will 
feel  very  poor,  and  be  impressed  with  a  sense  of  the  necessity  of 
abiding  in  true  stillness  while  the  cloud  resteth  upon  the  taber- 
nacle, knowing  that  their  suffering  is  alone  of  God,  without  whom 
they  can  do  nothing.  I  attended  Haddonfield  Quarterly  Meeting 
of  ministers  and  elders,  and  was  silent.  I  suppose  this  was  a  good 
meeting  to  some,  but  to  me  this  whole  day  was  nia<le  a  deep,  bap- 
tizing season. 

The  13th  came  on  Haddonfield  Quarterly  meeting  for  worship  and 
discipline,  which  was  very  largo,  and  eminently  owned  by  the  Holy 
Head  of  the  Church.   I  Avas,  through  the  Lord's  mercy,  called  forth 
into  public  testimony  in  this  meeting,  to  the  ])eace  of  my  own 
mind,  and,  I  thought,  to  the  satisfaction  of  Friends.    Blessed  forever 
be  the  name  of  the  Lord!    We  this  afternoon  and  the  next  day  rode 
to  the  neighborhood  of  Eggharbor,  near  the  sea-shore,  and  on  the 
lofh  held  a  small  and  trying  meeting  there,  in  which  I  found  some 
little  service,  but  not  much,  to  the  relief  of  my  mind.     I  this  day, 
througji  the  inclemency  of  the  weather,  took  a  deep  cold,  which  much 
affected  my  health  for  some  days.     16th  being  First-day,  we  held 
a  large  and  open  meeting  at  Galloway;  many  attended  who  were 
not  members  of  our  religious  Society,  and  the  "Lord  was  pleased  to 
send  forth  his  testimony  to  the  humbling  of  many  minds.     Praised 
forever  be  his  great  and  holy  name !  I  was  this  night  very  unwell, being 
afflicted  with  a  severe  headache,  so  that  I  had  but  little  sleep  or 
bodily  rest.     17th.      Being  a  little  better  in  my  health,   we  were 
favored  to  travel  on  to  Tuckerton,  having  rode  yesterday  afternoon 
and  this  morning  about  forty  miles  to  this  place.     AYe,  this  after- 
noon held  a  good  open  meeting  in  this  town  for  Friends  and  others, 
the  meeting  was  well  attended,   and  through  divine  mercy  it  Avas 
made  a  solemn  season.     18th.     We,  this  afternoon  held  a  meeting 
at  Barnegat,  which  Avas  in  the  fore  part  a  trying  time,  but  through 
divine  aid  the  meeting  ended  pretty  Avell.     I  Avas  this  night  very 
much  indisposed  in  body,  being  afflicted  Avith  a  headache  and  sick 
stomach.     19th.     I  Avas  this  day  very  unAvell;  Ave,  however,  traveled 
about  forty-five  miles  to  a  friend's  house,  near  Haddonfield,  Avhere 
we  Avere  kindly  entertained  while  Ave  continued  there.     I  Avas  this 
night  very  uuAvell  Avith  a  sick  stomach  and  headache.      I  here  took 
some  medicine  which  so  operated  that  the  next  morning  I  felt  some 
better.     We,  this  afternoon  (being  the  20th)  and  tlie  two  following 
days  rode  to  the  neigliborhood  of  Greenwich.      I  continued  to  be 
])oorly  and  weakly,  this  Avas  a  low  time  Avith  me,  l)oth  in  body  and 
mind.     I  besought  the  Lord  Avith  tears  to  rememljer  me  and  to  sus- 
tain me  on  every  hand.     I  often  about  this  time  felt  very  lonesome 
and  sometimes  Avas  much  closed  up  even  in  ordinary  conversation. 


86  JOUKXAL   OF   THOMAS   ARXETT.  1834 

Oh  I  how  I  desired  to  please  my  God  and  to  walk  in  liis  divine 
favor.  I  felt  williiig  to  be  brought  as  low  in  body  and  mind  as 
might  be  consistent  with  his  blessed  will,  knowing  that  he  would 
cause  all  things  to  work  together  for  my  good  if  I  continue  to  be 
faithful  to  him  in  all  things.  On  the  23rd,  being  First-day,  we 
attended  Friends'  meeting  of  Greenwich,  and  although  I  was  un- 
well, yet  the  Lord  enabled  me  to  move  in  gospel  ministry  to  good 
satisfaction. 

I  have  received  the  following  encouraging  letter  from  my  dear 
wife: 

New  Hope,  Green  County,  Ohio,  3d  Month,  2d,  1834. 
My  Dear  Hushand: — 

I  received  thy  letter  of  the  4th  of  last  month,  which  afforded  me 
much  satisfaction.  I  was  glad  to  find  by  thy  letter,  that  thou  wast 
enabled  to  bear  the  trial  of  the  loss  of  our  dear  little  daughter  with 
becoming  fortitude.  I  can  assure  thee,  that  this  trial  coming  on 
me  in  thy  al)sence  was  to  me  of  a  deeply-affecting  nature,  but 
through  adorable  mercy,  I  was  enabled  to  bear  it  with  resignation 
to  the  divine  will.  I  can  assure  thee,  my  dear,  that  thou  art  often 
brought  near  to  my  best  feelings,  in  which  thou  hast  my  prayer  and 
sympathy.  I  sometimes  feel  very  lonesome  and  much  cast  down, 
but  I  desire  to  be  patient  and  to  be  willing  to  endure  affliction 
for  Christ's  sake.  My  friends  and  relatives  are  very  kind  to  me 
and  appear  to  have  much  sym]iathy  and  regard  for  me  in  all  my 
trials.  I  feel  for  thee,  my  dear,  apjn-ehending  that  thou  often 
feelest  very  lonesome,  being  as  a  stranger  traveling  in  a  strange 
land,  but  I  want  thee  to  be  encouraged  to  travel  on  to  the  peace 
of  thy  own  mind  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  Friends.  Put  thy 
trust  in  him  who  is  able  to  support  thee  in  all  thy  trials  and  con- 
flicts. I  have  no  doubt  but  Friends  will  be  kind  to  thee,  and 
sympathize  with  thee  in  thy  baptism.  I  want  thee  to  be  satis- 
fied about  home.  I  can  assure  thee  that  the  want  of  thy  com- 
pany is  a  great  privation  to  me,  but  I  am  fully  willing  to  give 
thee  up  to  the  Lord's  service,  believing  tliat  he  requires  much  of 
thee  and  has  been  very  good  to  thee.  I  am  willing  to  stay  at 
home  in  thy  absence  and  to  do  the  best  I  can,  Ijeing  assured  if 
we  be  faithful  unto  death,  that  the  crown  immortal  will  be  our 
hapi)y  reward.  In  gospel  love  and  true  Christian  sympathy,  I  re- 
main thy  loving  and  affectionate  wife,  Ka(  tiel  Aknett. 

We,  this  afternoon  and  the  next  day  rode  to  the  city  of  Phila- 
dclpliia,  Avliere  I  spent  tlio  25th  ax  a  friend's  house  in  order  to  rest 
and  improve  my  healtli,  Friends  of  this  city  were  very  kind  to  me. 
2Gth.  My  health  l)eing  somewhat  imi)roved,  we,  this  afternoon  and 
the  next  day  rode  to  tlie  neigliborhood  of  Stoney  Brook  (in  A'ew 
Jersey),  and  on  tiie  2Sth  attended  Friend's  meeting  there,  which 
was  a  trying  time  till  near  the  close  of  the  meeting  when  truth  in 


1834  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  87 

some  degree  arose  and  caused  tlie  meeting  to  end  pretty  well.  We, 
this  afternoon  rode  to  East  Branch,  to  a  friend's  house,  where  I 
spent  the  3!)th  in  writing  and  meditation.  30th,  being  First-day, 
we  held  a  meeting  at  East  Branch,  where  we  found  an  opposing 
spirit  in  some,  but  the  Lord  through  mercy  opened  my  uioutli  and 
gave  me  ability  and  utterance  to  the  glory  of  his  name.  We,  this 
afternoon  traveled  about  thirty  miles  to"  Shrewsburg,  and  on  the 
next  day  held  a  pretty  good,  open  meeting  there  to  satisfaction. 

Fourth  mouth,  1st.  We  this  day  rode  about  forty  miles  to  Plain- 
field,  and  on  the  next  day  held  a  meeting  tliere,  in  the  fore-part  of 
which  I  fejt  very  poor,  but  by  waiting  in  faith  upon  Ood  in  silence 
for  some  time,  truth  at  length  arose  and  gave  us  a  good,  comfortal^le 
meeting.  3rd.  We  held  a  meeting  at  Rahwav,  where  the  faithful 
were  encouraged  and  the  slothful  reproved. 

Having  visited  the  Meetings  of  Friends  in  New  Jersey,  we  set  out 
this  afternoon  for  Stroudsburg,  (in  Pennsylvania,)  where  we  arrived 
on  the  5tli,  and  the  next  day,  being  First-day,  we  held  a  large 
and  open  meeting  there;  the  states  of  the  people  were  spoken  to  in 
the  authority  of  truth.  Blessed  be  the  Lord!  We,  this  afternoon 
and  the  next  day,  rode  to  the  settlement  of  Friends  on  Maiden 
Creek,  and  the  8th  I  spent  in  writing  and  meditation  on  the  good- 
ness and  mercy  of  God. 

My  mind  was  this  evening  brought  into  deep  feeling;  I  thought 
the  hand  of  the  Lord  was  upon  me,  I  therefore  reverently  bowed 
before  him  in  the  spirit  of  my  mind,  and  supplicated  him  to  deal 
with  me,  while  in  this  vale  of  tears,  consistent  with  his  holy  will. 
I  was  impressed  with  a  seiise  of  His  majesty,  glory  and  power,  and 
contemplated,  with  deep  humility,  his  great  wonders  and  the  im- 
mensity of  his  works.  Oh!  how  I  desiral  to  dwell  in  his  house  all 
the  days  of  my  life,  and  more  and  more  to  deepen  in  the  root  of 
immortal  life.  A  fervent  desire  was  renewed  in  me  more  and  more 
to  see  into  the  spirtuality  of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  that  I  may  grad- 
ually receive  instruction  in  the  faith  and  the  doctrines  thereof,  as 
it  may  please  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  to  instruct  me,  to 
whom  be  glory  and  honor,  for  he  is  worthy  above  all,  forever  and 
ever.     Amen ! 

The  9th,  we  held  a  meeting  at  Maiden  Creek,  where  mv  mind 
was  opened  in  the  doctrine  of  Christian  redemption,  to  good  satis- 
faction. 10th.  We  had  a  meeting  at  Exeter,  which  in  the  fore- 
part was  a  very  proving  time.  I  at  length  arose,  in  much  weak- 
ness, a  little  to  inform  the  meeting  of  the  exercise  of  my  mind,  not 
expecting  to  have  much  to  say,  but  by  strictly  looking  to  Cod  for 
direction,  way  opened  in  my  mind  to  proceed  in  tlie  gospel,  stej)  by 
step,  so  that  I  was  favored  in  gospel  ministry  and  in  supplication. 
11th,  we  attended  Robinson  :\Ioiithly  Meeting  of  Friends,  where  we 
found  pure  religion  to  be  at  a  low  ebb.  I  was  much  favored  to 
speak,  in  gospel  love,  to  the  state  and  condition  of  this  meeting, 


88  JOUHXAL   OF   THOMAS   ARXETT.  1834 

for  which  I  was  revei-ently  thankful  to  the  Autlior  of  all  good. 
12th.  We  held  a  small  meeting  at  Pottsgrove;  the  peojile  who 
attended  being  most  of  them  lovers  of  the  world  more  tl)an  the 
blessed  cross  of  Christ,  therefore  a  solemn  warning  went  forth  ad- 
monishing them  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come,  and  to  prepare  for 
eternity  while  divine  mercy  was  near.  They  seemed  tender  when 
the  meeting  closed,  and  I  hope  they  will  be  more  serious  in  future. 

The  i:}tli  being  First-day,  we  attended  Friends' Meeting  of  Ger- 
mantown,  Avhere  the  Lord  was  graciously  pleased  to  send  fortli  his 
testimony  to  the  humbling  of  many  minds.  Praised  forever  )je  his 
great  and  holy  name! 

I  this  afternoon  went  home  with  my  dear  and  kind  friend  Thomas 
AVister,  who  has  been  for  some  time  my  very  accei^table  companion. 
AVliile  we  traveled  together  a  sincere  friendshiji  was  contracted 
between  us,  which  I  hope  will  continue  as  long  as  we  live.  He  was 
truly  a  good,  sym])atliizing  friend  to  me,  and  I  hope  the  Lord  will 
bless  him  for  his  kindness  to  me. 

The  14th.  I  this  morning  went  on  to  the  city  of  Philadelphia, 
in  order  to  attend  some  meetings  of  Friends  there  this  week,  and 
also  to  attend  the  approaching  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends  there. 
I  spent  this  day,  after  arriving  in  the  city,  in  writing  and  serious 
reflection.  I  endured  some  conflict  of  mind,  but  by  trusting  alone 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  I  was  in  a  good  degree   supported. 

The  15th,  1  attended  the  Northern  Meeting  of  Friends  and  was 
favored  with  the  most  comfortable  and  peaceful  silence.  I  thought 
that  a  i)recious  degree  of  solemnity  jiervadedthis  meeting,  in  which 
the  Lord  was  worshiped  in  s])irit  and  in  truth.  IGth.  I  attended 
the  "Westei'u  District  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends,  and  through 
Divine  mercy  was  favored  with  a  precious  testimony,  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  Friends  and  to  the  relief  of  my  own  mind.  Praised  forever 
be  the  name  of  the  Lord,  for  he  is  worthy.  17th,  I  was  at  Arch 
street  Meeting  of  Friends,  in  which  theLoid  was  pleased  to  give  me 
a  short  testimony,  in  some  degree  to  the  relief  to  my  mind.  I  Avas 
this  day  much  impressed  with  a  sense  of  the  power  and  majesty  of 
God.  I  looked'to  him  Avith  holy  fear  and  reverence,  and  secretly 
besought  him  to  remember  me  in  his  great  loving  kindness  and 
goodni'sss.  I  sensibly  felt  the  great  danger  of  going  counter  to  his 
Divine  will.  Oh!  that  I  may  be  preserved  on  every  hand,  and  do 
his  will  in  all  things. 

1'lie  18th,  I  attended  the  meeting  for  sufferings,  where  I  enjoyed 
much  satisfaction  of  mind.  In  this  meeting  I  found  a  considerable 
numbei-  of  solid,  exjierienced  Fi'iends,  who  were  well  acquainted 
with  the  discii)line  and  order  of  our  Society.  19th.  I  attended 
the  "i'early  .Meeting  of  ministers  and  elders,  and  had  cause  to  believe 
that  a  goodly  number  of  Friends  were  present  who  maintain  the 
faith  and  doctrines  of  the  gospel  in  the  spirit  of  meekness  and  true 
wisdom,  and  who  are  concerned  to  stand  forth  alone  for  the  testi- 


1831  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  "  89 

mony  of  truth.  20th.  I  this  morning  uttended  Orange  Street 
Meeting  of  Friends,  which  was,  in  some  degree,  a  low  time.  I 
delivered  a  short,  doctrinal  testimony  in  true  love,  and  in  a  good 
degree  to  the  peace  of  my  own  mind.  In  the  afternoon  T  was  at 
the  Western  District  Meeting,  and  was  silent;  some  other  minister- 
ing Friends  had  a  good  service,  for  which  I  was  thankful  to  the 
great  Giver. 

The  21st.  Came  on  the  Yearly  Meeting  for  discipline,  which  by 
adjournments  was  held  till  the  evening  of  the  2Gth.  Tliis  meeting 
was  large,  and  iu  a  good  degree  owned  by  the  Good  Shepherd  of 
Israel,  under  whose  guidance  and  help  Friends  were  enabled  to 
transact  the  important  concerns  of  the  Society,  which  claimed  their 
consideratiom  with  brotherly  love  and  Christian  condescension. 
This  was  no  doubt  a  good  meeting  to  many;  a  fervent  travail  of 
spirit  ]irevailed,  in  which  the  faithful  were  encouraged  to  stand 
firm  for  the  testimony  of  truth,  and  to  persevere  to  the  end  in  the 
way  of  the  cross,  that  they  may  obtain  the  crown  immortal;  and  the 
negligent  were  admonished  in  gospel  love  to  more  diligence,  and  to 
greater  dedication  of  heart  to  him  who  is  the  Author  of  all  our  sure 
mercies  and  blessings. 

It  was  my  lot  to  sit  through  this  meeting  in  sutfering  silence,  in 
which  my  mind  was  brought  very  low.  I  felt,  indeed,  very  poor 
and  much  forsaken;  "my  sjjirit  was  overwhelmned  Avithin  me," 
and  the  travail  of  my  soul  was  deep,  and  the  inward  conflicts  of  my 
mind  were  great;  so  that  it  seemed  to  me  that  I  could  reverently 
cry  out  with  a  faithful  servant  of  God  formerly,  who  said  m  true 
humility:  "  I  looked  on  my  right  hand,  but  behold,  there  was  no 
man  that  would  know  me;  refuge  failed  me;  no  one  cared  for  my 
soul.  I  cried  unto  Tliee,  0  Lord;  I  said,  'Thou  art  my  refuge, 
and  my  portion  in  the  land  of  the  living.'  "  While  my  mind  was 
thus  solemnly  pervaded  I  entered  into  a  very  strict  and  impartial 
scrutiny  of  my  past  religious  life,  and,  although  I  had  to  mourn 
over  my  imperfections,  yet,  through  the  meritorious  mercy  and  in- 
tercession of  the  vvell-ljeloved  Son  of  God,  I  felt  no  condemnation; 
not  that  I  had  done  anything  that  merited  salvation,  or  that  I 
could  be  saved  by  works  of  righteousness  which  I  have  done,  for 
according  to  His"^  mercy  He  saves  us  by  the  washing  of  regeneration 
and  renewing  of  the  Holy  (J host.  After  I  had  investigated  my  past 
religious  walks  and  saw  all  my  own  righteousness,  as  it  were,  to  be  as 
filthy  rags,  and  conceived  myself  to  be  a  i)oor,  unprofitable  servant, 
and  was  renewedly  made  sensible  that  I  had  nothing  to  depend  on 
for  salvation  but"  the  rigliteousness  of  Christ,  I  with  much  fear 
and  trembling  cried  to  the  Lord  for  mercy  and  for  preservation, 
and  this  scrijiture  injunction  was  renewed  in  my  mind  with  much 
force  and  weight:  *'  Be  still,  and  know  that  I  am  God."  I  hum- 
bly bowed  in  believing  that  His  holy  hand  was  u^ton  me  in  baptism, 
and  saw  the  great  necessity  of  abiding  all  His  gracious  dispensa- 


90  JOUKXAL    OF   THO:\rAS   ARXETT.  1834 

tions  in  the  patience,  the  faitli,  and  the  hope  of  the  gospel,  know- 
ing that  whom  He  loveth  He  rebuketh  and  chasteneth,  and  that  He 
dealeth  with  His  faithful  children  in  such  a  manner  as  that  no 
flesh  shall  glory  in  His  sitht;  in  the  most  fatherly  mercy  He  some- 
times, as  it  were,  strips  His  devoted  children,  and  causes  them  to 
put  their  mouth  in  the  dust  and  to  keep  silence,  and  both  to  hope 
and  quietly  wait  for  His  salvation;  and  as  they  here  dwell  in  true 
stillness  before  Him,  arrogating  nothing  to  themselves,  but  keep- 
ing all  within  themselves  under  the  cross  of  Christ,  He  will  in  His 
own  time  return  with  healing  in  His  wings  and  arise  for  their  as- 
cendancy into  His  holy  hill  to  sing  praises  to  His  immortal  name. 
Oh,  how  I  desired  patiently  to  endure  the  turning  and  the  over- 
turning of  His  mighty  liand  upon  me,  and  to  have  no  will  at  all  of 
my  own!  I  besought  him  with  tears,  and  with  a  broken  and  trem- 
bling heart,  to  remember  me  in  His  mercy  and  in  His  loving  kind- 
ness. The  language  of  my  heart  was:  "  Whom  have  I  in  heaven 
but  Thee,  and  what  is  there  in  the  earth  that  I  desire  besides 
Thee?"  and  He  had  mercy  upon  me,  and  showed  me  that  He  was 
with  me  in  all  the  refining  baptisms  that  came  upon  me,  and  that 
it  was  good  to  suffer  in  this  life  for  His  holy  name's  sake,  and  that 
those  who  walk  in  the  path  which  He  casteth  up  for  them,  He  will 
be  a  friend  to  such  that  sticketh  closer  than  a  brother  or  a  sister, 
and  cause  all  things  to  work  together  for  their  good.  I  beseech 
Thee,  0  Lord,  to  do  with  me  as  seemeth  good  to  Thee.  Thou 
knowest  I  love  Thee,  and  desire  to  serve  Thee  while  in  this  life  with 
a  perfect  heart  and  witli  a  willing  mind.  More  and  more  sanctify 
me,  and  cause  Thy  will,  and  not  mine,  to  be  done.** 

The  27th.  I  this  morning,  in  company  with  Enos  Lee,  left  the 
city  of  Philadelijhia,  and  this  being  First-day,  we  rode  to  Baduor 
Meeting  of  Friends,  which  we  attended  to  good  satisfaction;  and 
this  afternoon  and  the  two  following  days  we  rode  to  Pottsville,  a 
large  town  on  the  Schuylkill  river,  and  held  a  good  open  meeting 
there  in  the  evening  in  the  Episcopalian  meeting-house.  I  was  fa- 
vored to  deliver  the  doctrine  of  the  gospel  to  good  satisfaction. 
30th.  We  rode  about  thirty  miles  to  Cattawissa,  a  town  on  the 
Susquehanna  river.  This  was  a  day  of  much  exercise  of  mind  to 
me.  My  heart  was  engaged  in  prayer  and  supplication  to  the  Lord 
for  His  mercy  and  protection. 

5th  mo.  1st.  We  this  morning  rode  to  Friends'  settlement  on 
Fishing  Creek,  and  the  next  day  held  two  meetings — the  one  in  the 
morning  at  fireenwood,  and  the  other  in  the  afternoon  at  Fishing- 
Creek;  these  were  good  open  meetings,  od.  We  rode  to  Muncy, 
and  the  next  day  being  First-day,  we  attended  Friends'  meeting 
there,  and  were  favored  with  a  good  open  season,  much  to  the  )'e- 
lief  of  my  mind.  We  this  afternoon  and  the  next  day  rode  up- 
wards of  sixty  miles  to  Jiellefonte,  and  the  Gth  we  spent  at  the 
house  of  Bond  Valentine,  and  were  much  interested  in  the  company 


1834  JOURN"AL   OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  91 

of  him  and  his  wife,  believing  that  if  they  fully  sul)mit  to  the 
teaching  of  the  cross  of  Christ  they  will  be  calculated  to  do  much 
good  in  our  Society.  I  was  engaged  this  day  in  writing  and  in 
meditation.  7th.  We  this  day  held  a  meeting  in  Friends' meeting 
house  in  this  town,  for  Friends  and  others.  (This  meeting  is  a 
branch  of  Baltimore  Yearly  Meeting.)  The  Lord's  heljiing  hand 
was  present  in  this  meeting.  Doctrine  flowed  freely  to  the  tender- 
ing of  many  minds,  and  the  meeting  ended  to  good  satisfaction. 
We  this  afternoon  and  the  next  day  returned  to  Muncy,  and,  being 
tired,  we  rested  on  the  9th  at  a  Friend's  house. 

The  10th.  We  this  morning  set  out  from  Muncy  and  rode 
about  thirty  miles  to  the  neighborhood  of  Elkland,  and  the  next 
day  being  First-day,  we  attended  Friends'  meeting  there,  and, 
through  divine  grace,  found  some  good  service  for  the  Ijord.  Af- 
ter meeting  and  the  two  following  days  we  rode  to  Friendsville, 
and  on  the  14th  we  held  a  meeting  there,  which,  after  a  time  of 
much  deep  exercise  of  mind,  the  Lord  enabled  me  to  stand  forth 
for  the  encouragement  of  His  little,  sincere  ones,  so  that  the  meet- 
ing concluded  with  thanksgiving  to  His  ever  blessed  and  worthy 
name. 

About  this  time  the  weather  was  so  cold  that  in  traveling  from 
place  to  place  I  suffered  very  much  with  the  cold,  with  all  my  win- 
ter clothes  on;  and  this  remarkable  and  unusual  change  of  the 
weather  was  not  only  witnessed  here,  but  also  in  different  parts  of 
the  world.  The  ground  was  extensively  covered  with  snow,  and 
the  great  freeze  which  was  produced  in  consequence  of  the  inclem- 
ency of  the  weather  had  a  very  serious,  chilling  and  blasting  effect 
on  the  germinating  princij^le  of  the  earth,  so  that  when  the  cold 
terminated  the  face  of  the  earth  for  a  while  seemed  to  bear  a 
gloomy  and  desolating  aspect — the  tender  plants  and  the  leaves  of 
the  trees  in  many  instances  being  so  affected  by  it  that  they  soon 
died  and  withered  away.  This  uncommon  change  of  the  season 
produced  in  my  mind  very  serious  reflections.  I  was  brought  to 
consider  how  very  dependent  we  poor,  finite  and  fallen  beings  are 
on  Him  who  governs  the  vicissitude  of  the  seasons  and  causes  na- 
ture to  subserve  to  the  counsel  of  His  wisdom.  He  can  at  anytime 
so  change  the  season  as  to  blast  all  our  efforts  and  industry;  and  it 
is  through  adorable  mercy  that  He  sustains  the  seasons  and  causes 
nature  so  to  smile  upon  our  earth  as  to  produce  food  and  raiment 
for  our  poor,  frail  bodies  while  passing  througli  this  lower  world. 
Blessed  forever  be  His  worthy  name! 

On  the  15th  and  lOth,  we  rode  from  the  vicinity  of  Friendsville 
to  Stroudsburg,  and  being  wearied  with  traveling  through  inclem- 
ent weather,  we  concluded  to  spend  the  17tli  at  the  house  of  our 
dear  and  very  kind  friend,  Daniel  Stroud,  in  order  to  rest.  This 
dear  friend  is  a  minister  in  unity  with  Friends,  and  he  and  his 
family  treated  us  with  Christian  kindness  and  true  sympathy.     The 


92  JOUKNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKXETT.  1834 

18th,  being  First-clay,  we  attended  Stroudsburg  meeting  for  wor- 
ship, which  proved  to  be  a  low  and  trying  time  till  near  the  close, 
when  tlie  meeting  ended  with  prayer. 

I  have  now  visited  the  meetings  that  constitute  Philadelphia 
Yearly  Meeting,  and  in  passing  through  these  meetings  my  mind 
often  witnessed  exercises  which  language  cannot  well  describe. 
The  Lord  in  a  wonderful  and  weighty  manner  often  laid  his  holy 
hand  ujjon  me,  and  brought  me  down  in  judgment  and  baptism 
before  him,  and  made  me  sensible  that  the  blindness  in  part  hath 
fallen  upon  Israel,  and  that  the  seed  of  life  in  many  mourns, 
and  often  prays  for  deliverance,  and  again  and  again  he  arose 
in  me  so  as  to  grant  ability  to  encourage  the  humble  traveler 
in  zion  and  to  call  sinners  to  repentance.  Many  meetings  which 
I  held  within  tre  limits  of  this  Yearly  Meeting  were  well  attend- 
ed by  people  of  different  religious  denominations,  who  apj)eared 
generally  to  be  satisfied,  and  some  of  them  Avere  reached  by  the 
power  of  truth  and  broken  into  much  tenderness  and  contrition, 
while  others  were  so  involved  in  the  love  of  the  world  that  al- 
though they  appeared  to  be  satisfied  with  seeing  doctrine  brought 
to  light,  yet  the  seed  of  life  was  not  reached  in'  them.  In  this 
Yearly  Meeting  I  found  many  valuable  and  interesting  Friends, 
and  I  also  met  with  those  who  were  too  much  engaged  in  the  jiur- 
ticipation  of  the  love  and  political  bustle  of  a  fallen  world.  And 
in  order  mora  fully  to  set  forth  the  state  of  this  Yearly  Meeting,  I 
here  again  advert  to  the  travail  thereof  in  its  late  sojourn  in  send- 
ing down  to  the  subordinate  meetings  the  following  minute  of  ad- 
vice, Avhich  Avas  directed  to  the  careful  attention  of  Friends  indi- 
vidually. 

"This  meeting  AA^as  introduced  into  much  exercise  for  the  j^res- 
erA'ation  of  its  members  on  the  foundation  Avhich  has  been  the  sup- 
port of  the  faithful  followers  of  Christ  in  every  generation,  that 
by  abiding  in  a  state  of  Avatchfulness  unto  prayer,  they  may  l)e  pre- 
served from  being  caught  by  the  fluctuating  spirit  or  policies  of  the 
AV'orld,  and  through  unreserved  dedication  to  the  teachings  and 
leadings  of  the  Spirit  of  Clirist,  be  qualified  to  maintain  inviolate 
our  testimony  to  the  peaceable  nature  of  his  kingdom.  And  it  is 
our  fervent  desire,  that  all  our  dear  Friends  may  be  es])ecially  on 
their  guard  in  times  of  outward  commotion,  endeavoring  to  keep 
near  to  one  another,  and  to  the  blessed  truth  in  their  own  hearts. 
TJiis  Avill  enable  them  to  shoAv  forth  out  of  a  consistent  conversa- 
tion, the  fruits  of  righteousness,  gentleness,  meekness,  and  tem- 
perance, and  by  thus  exalti  ig  the  testimonies  given  us  to  bear, 
they  Avill  be  made  a  blessing  to  tliose  amongst  Avhom  they  dwell. ^' 

The  Ilicksites  have  taken  the  control  of  tlie  greater  proportion  of 
Friei.uls'  meeting  houses  within  the  limits  of  this  Yearly  Meeting, 
80  that  Friends  in  a  7iumber  of  neighborhoods  have  been  under  the 
necessity  of  building  new  houses  to  hold  their  meetings  in,  and  in 


18S4  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AllXETT.  93 

some  meetings  tlicy  continue  sometimes  to  trouble  Friends  by 
going  in  amongst  tliem  in  meeting  and  imposing  their  communica- 
tions on  tliem.  The  Lord  only  knows  when  our  sutfering  will  be 
over  which  has  been  brought  upon  us  in  consequence  of  this  un- 
liaj^py  schism.  1  know  that  judgment  belongs  to  him  and  that  he 
will  avenge  his  people,  and  punisii  the  wicked  with  everlasting  des- 
truction from  his  presence,  and  from  the  glory  of  his  power. 

On  the  iDth  and  20th  we  rode  to  the  city  of  New  York,  and  here 
ray  dear  friend,  Enos  Lee,  who  has  been  for  awhile  my  very  accep- 
table companion,  feeling  his  mind  turned  toward  home,  took  his 
tender  and  affectionate  leave  of  me,  and  parted  with  me  in  that 
love  which  is  the  badge  of  discipleship. 

The  21st,  I  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  in  New  York  City, 
in  which  my  mouth  was  opened  in  a  pretty  good  degree  in  gospel 
love  to  the  sanctification  of  Friends.  The  22d,  I  was  at  the  meet- 
ing of  Friends  at  Flushing,  on  Long  Island,  and  after  waiting 
sometime  in  silence  in  a  very  dependent  frame  of  mind,  the  power 
of  truth  arose  to  the  humbling  of  many  minds,  so  that  the  meet- 
ing ended  well.  The  22d.  I  held  a  good  open  meeting  at  West- 
bury.  The  Lord's  power  was  present,  under  the  influence  of  which 
Friends  were  strengthened  in  the  faith  and  the  hope  of  the  gospel 
of  Christ.  The  meeting  ended  well.  The  24th.  I  this  morning 
returned  to  New  York  city  in  order  to  attend  the  approaching 
Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends,  and  on  this  morning  the  Yearly  Meet- 
ing of  ministers  and  elders  was  opened.  Through  the  Lord's  help- 
ing hand,  ministers  and  elders  felt  the  importance  of  living  nigh 
the  blessed  truth  and  strictly  observing  inward  watchfulness  unto 
prayer.  This  is  a  time  of  great  political  confusion  and  commotion 
in  the  civil  world,  as  well  as  the  unusual  excitement  on  the  all  im- 
portant subject  of  faitli  and  doctrine  in  the  religious  world.  Oh  I 
hosv  necessary  it  is  that  ministers  and  elders  should  lie  low  and 
dwell  deep  in  the  spirit  of  their  minds  in  such  a  period  of  the 
world  as  this,  that  they  may  deepen  in  the  root  of  immortal  life, 
and  live  near  one  another  in  the  truth,  having  the  same  mind  and 
spirit,  and  maintaining  the  same  faith,  hope,  and  doctrine,  in  the 
gospel  of  Christ. 

The  25th,  being  First-day,  the  public  meetings  of  Friends  for 
divine  worship  in  this  city  were  well  attended,  in  which  doctrine, 
with  encouragement  to  the  sincere,  and  admonition  to  the  wicked, 
flowed  freely  to  the  glory  and  honor  of  the  good  name  of  God. 

This  was  a  day  of  unusual  divine  favor  with  me,  while  sitting 
in  a  Friend's  house,  after  having  declared  the  Lord's  truth  in  meet- 
ing with  power  and  authority,  I  felt  indeed  for  awhile  very  lone- 
some, being  numy  miles  from  home  for  the  purpose  of  espousing 
the  faith,  and  the  doctrine  of  the  gospel  before  the  public,  and 
having  no  regular  companion,  I  felt  for  a  few  minutes  very  much 
discouraged.     At  length  a  deep  and  pure  silence  of  mind  came 


94  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS   ARXETT.  1834 

upon  me,  and  the  Lord's  glorious  power  so  prevailed  in  me,  that  I 
became  wonderfully  impressed  with  a  sense  of  his  goodness  and 
mercy,  and  I  believe  that  this  language  passed  through  my  mind 
in  the  love  of  the  gospel :  "Be  not  dismayed,  for  I  am  with  thee. 
I  will  strengthen  thee.  Yea,  I  will  help  thee.  Yea,  I  will  uphold 
thee  by  the" right  hand  of  my  righteousness,  and  fear  not,  for  I 
will  send  the  angel  of  my  presence  with  thee."  Oh  !  how  my  poor 
soul  adored  the  God  of  my  salvation  while  his  great  power  thus 
pervaded  me  I  It  seemed  to  me  that  the  glory  of  heaven  was  so 
opened  to  my  view,  that  I  saw  nothing  here  worth  living  for  but 
to  serve  God  and  to  prepare  for  the  mansion  of  everlasting  bliss. 
My  spirit  leaped  with  Joy  unspeakable,  and  craved  to  mount  up  with 
wings  as  eagles,  and  be  forever  at  rest  in  the  arm  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 
But  I  know  that  I  must  go  forth  into  the  world  and  endure  many 
things  for  the  testimony  of  the  gospel,  before  I  could  enjoy  that 
pure  peace  in  eternity,  a  fortaste  of  which  I  this  day  mercifully 
Avitnessed.  Oh  !  that  I  may  endure  faithful  unto  the  end  with  all 
godliness  and  honesty,  that  I  may  obtain  the  crown  immortal. 

The  26th.  On  this  morning  the  Yearly  Meeting  for  Discipline 
was  opened  under  a  sense  of  our  inability  of  doing  any  good  thing 
of  ourselves,  therefore  the  sincere  mind  was  engaged  in  prayer  and 
supplication  to  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  that  he  would  be  one 
in  the  midst  with  us  in  this  our  annual  assembly,  which  was  merci- 
fully answered;  for  through  the  course  of  this  meeting  he  presided 
amongst  us  by  his  spirit  and  granted  ability  to  Friends  to  conduct 
and  manage  the  important  concerns  of  Society  with  Christian  love, 
unanimit}'  and  harmony.  I  thought  that  this  was  one  of  the  most 
interesting  Yearly  Meetings  that  I  over  attended.  I  found  many 
valuable  and  well  concerned  friends  in  this  meeting,  with  whom 
my  spirt  sympathized  in  the  travail  of  Society,  finding  that  although 
our  discipline  is  well  sustained  in  most  instances,  yet  we  had  cause 
to  mourn  in  consequence  of  many  existing  disci])lines  amongst  us. 
The  Lord  was  graciously  pleased  to  be  with  me  through  the  course 
of  this  meeting  and  mercifully  gave  me  much  good  service,  so  that 
I  had  cause  often  to  sing  the  new  song  which  none  can  sing  but 
those  who  are  redeemed  from  the  earth  and  from  amongst  men  by 
the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  This  Yearly  Meeting  on  the  oOth,  closed  its 
session  with  thanksgiving  and  praise  to  the  great  Shepherd  of  Israel 
for  all  his  exercises  and  loving  kindness  vouchsafed  to  us. 

The  31st,  I  took  a  passage  this  morning  on  steamboat  from  this 
city  to  Sing  Sing,  and  in  passing  along  my  mind  was  much  engaged 
in  delightful  reflection  and  conversation,  being  about  three  hun- 
dred people  on  board  the  steamboat,  amongst  Avhom  there  were 
many  Friends  returning  home  from  the  Yearly  Meeting  with  thank- 
ful hearts  to  the  Lord  in  giving  us  at  our  annual  assembly  his  soul- 
solacing  presence,  and  preserving  us  to  the  glory  and  honor  of  his 
holy  and  worthy  name. 


1834  JOUKNAL   OF   THOMAS   AllNETT.  95 

Sixth  month,  1st,  being  First-day,  I  this  morning  attended  the 
meetings  of  Friends  at  Crotton,  and  found  some  good  service  for 
the  Lord,  and  in  the  evening  I  hekl  a  hirge  and  good  meeting  at 
Peekskill,  in  Friend's  meeting  house.  The  doctrine  of 'Christian  re- 
demption was  delivered  to  good  satisfaction.  2nd.  I  held  a  good 
and  open  meeting  at  Amawalk.  ord.  I  had  a  meeting  at  Salem 
in  which  the  sincere  were  encouraged  and  the  lukewarm  were 
warned.  4th.  I  attended  Friend's  meeting  of  Croton  Valley,  and 
was  in  a  good  degree  opened  in  gosj^el  love.  5th.  I  held  a  good 
and  precious  meeting  at  Cha})aqua,  in  which  I  was  led  to  feel  with 
true  sympathy  with  the  pure  seed.  6th.  I  this  day  held  two  meet- 
ings, the  one  in  the  forenoon  at  Purchase,  and  the  other  in  the 
afternoon  at  Mansoneck,  these  meetings  were  seasons  of  much  Di- 
vine favor;  the  Lord's  helping  hand  Avas  felt  to  be  near.  I  was  this 
night  very  kindly  and  affectionately  entertained  at  the  house  of  my 
dear  and  worthy  friend  Kichard  Mott,  who  is  a  minister  in  good 
standing  amongst  Friends  and  has  traveled  much  for  the  defence 
of  the  gospel.  The  order  and  quietness  of  his  family,  I  could  but  ad- 
mire with  satisfaction.  He  at  a  suitable  time  every  morning  col- 
lects his  family  into  a  private  and  retired  room,  and  after  a  due 
panse,  reads  a  portion  of  the  Holy  Scrij^tures  with  subsequent 
waiting  upon  God  for  the  renewal  of  Divine  help,  and  I  was  made 
sensible  that  this  good  practice  was  both  blessed  to  him  and  to  his 
famil}^  and  it  would  be  blessed  to  all  who  would  observe  it  with 
fear  and  trembling,  knowing  that  of  themselves  they  can  do  noth- 
ing that  Avill  avail  their  salvation.  I  regret  in  passing  through  our 
Society  to  find  this  good  practice  neglected  by  many  of  my  dear 
Friends,  knowing  that  in  such  neglect,  they  do  sustain  a  serious  loss 
both  to  the  parents  and  cliildren. 

The  7th.  I  this  morning  returned  to  Ncav  York  city  and  had 
the  satisfaction  to  receive  a  very  good  and  encouraging  letter  from 
my  beloved  wife,  at  the  reading  of  which  feelings  were  renewed  in 
me  toward  her  which  cannot  be  well  described.  I  also  at  the  same 
time  received  the  folloAving  sympathizing  letter  from  a  dear  and 
worthv  friend  of  mine. 

''Clinton  County,  Ohio,  5th  Month,  24th,  1834. 
"Dear  Friend  Thomas  Arnott  : 

"1  have  often  thought  of  thee  since  thou  left  us  to  enter  upon 
thy  present  ardent  engagement.  .  My  desires  have  been  that  thou 
mightest  be  preserved  in  the  everlasting  truth  steadfastly  through- 
out, and  witness  strength  and  comfort  of  mind  through  the  love  of 
him  Avho  died  for  us,  and  be  enabled  to  bless  the  Lord  both  in  suf- 
fering and  in  rejoicing. 

"  1  liave  felt  for  thee  in  several  respects.  In  tlie  first  place  it 
doubtless  was  a  great  trial  to  thee  to  leave  thy  dear  family  and  thy 
connections  and  friends  at  home,  and  engage  to  travel  with  pres- 
sure of  spirit,  amongst  persons  who  were  mostly  strangers,  but  at 


96  JOURXAL   OF   THOMAS    AKXETT.  i834 

first  thou  wast  favored  with  a  companion  from  home  who  was  truly 
feeling,  and  to  wliom  thou  couldst  open  thy  mind  fully  when  oc- 
casion required,  but  soon  thou  wast  deprived  of  his  comi)any  ;  and 
then  the  mournful  tidings  of  the  death  of  thy  dear  little  daughter, 
thy  only  child,  must  have  been  truly  affecting  :  I  have  also  been 
informed  that  thy  own  health  has  not  been  good  of  late,  but  through 
all  I  ho]ie  the  Lord  will  raise  thee  up,  and  continue  his  goodness  to 
thee  by  the  inward  consolation  of  his  blessed  spirit,  and  that  he 
will  enable  thee  to  press  forward  like  one  valiant  in,  and  under  the 
cross  of  Christ  to  the  honor  of  his  great  name. 

"  I  desire  thy  encouragement,  and  that  thou  mayest  dwell  with 
the  pure  and  holy  seed.  Thou  art  aware  that  Friends  as  a  people 
have  been  characteristic  for  pressing  the  necessity  of  inward  sancti- 
fication  and  holiness  ;  they  have  not  crowded  their  doctrines,  or 
discourses  with  very  many  distinctions  or  disquisitions  respecting 
the  order  of  Christian  redemption,  or  of  the  manner  or  mode  of 
being  in  a  future  state  ;  yet  all  riglitly  informed  Friends  have  be- 
lieved in  the  doctrine  of  redemption  through  Christ  Jesus,  in  the 
resurrection  of  the  dead,  and  a  judgment  to  come,  and  that  God 
will  judge  the  world  in  righteousness  by  that  man  whom  he  hath 
ordained,  even  the  secrets  of  men  by  Jesus  Christ  according  to  the 
gospel.  In  these  things  the  scriptures  are  clear.  It  should  be  the 
concern  of  the  gospel  minister  to  teach  and  indicate  these  things, 
with  all  diligence  and  boldness  in,  and  by,  the  spirit  of  the  Lord, 
as  well  as  to  press  the  necessity  of  inward  purity  and  holiness,  and 
that  of  Avatchfulness  unto  prayer,  that  all  my  be  preserved  in  an  up- 
right walking,  and  that  the  conduct  and  conversation  of  all  may 
adorn  the  doctrine  of  God  our  Saviour,  to  maintain  good  works  is 
good  and  pr(;fitable  to  men,  the  contrary  would  bring  condemna- 
tion. 

"The  concerns  of  Society  are,  I  believe,  in  a  measure,  prosper- 
ous, brotherly  love  and  good  feeling  towards  each  other  generally 
abound. 

"  With  love,  I  reinain  thy  sincere  friend,  in  which  my  wife  heart- 
ily joins.  "  George   Carter." 

Tlie  8th,  being  First-day,  1  this  morning  attended  the  meeting 
of  Friends  in  New  York  city,  whicdi  was  very  large  and  eminently 
owned  by  Israel's  good  Shepherd.  My  mind  was  much  opened  in 
the  doctrine  of  Christian  redemption,  I  thought  to  the  comfort 
and  satisfaction  of  all  the  well  minded  who  were  present.  In  the 
afternoon  meeting  I  was  silent,  some  other  ministering  Friend 
found  much  good  service  for  the  Lord. 

The  Oth.  I  this  morning,  in  much  love  and  sympathy,  wrote  a 
letter  to  my  dear  wife,  feeling  my  mind  turned  toward  her  in  that 
l)ure  love  Avhich  neither  time  nor  distance  can  extinguish.  I  this 
evening  took  a  passage  from  this  city  by  steamboat  for  Newj)orr,, 
wliere  \  was  landed   next  morning:  in  fourteen  hours  after  setting 


1834  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS   ARXETT.  97 

suil,  the  distance  being  near  about  two  liuudred  miles.  I  this  day, 
after  Lmding  on  Rhode  Ishmd,  felt  very  thankful  to  the  Lord  for 
all  his  tender  mercies  to  me.  The  10th.  I  spent  this  day  in  writ- 
ing and  meditation,  and  at  times  felt  very  poor ;  but  again  and 
again  divine  grace  was  renewed  in  me,  so  that  praise  ascended  from 
my  heart  to  the  Author  of  all  good.  The  12th.  I  this  day,  Avith 
divers  other  public  Friends,  attended  Friends'  meeting  in  Newport, 
which,  through  Divine  goodness,  was  made  a.  refreshing  season. 
The  13th.  I  devoted  this  day  in  serious  retirement  and  to  writing, 
the  good  spirit  of  the  Lord  being  with  me  and  showing  me  the  ne- 
cessity of  inward  watchfulness  unto  prayer.  Oh  I  that  I  may  ever 
be  faithful  to  the  pointings  of  truth  and  earnestly  contend  for  the 
faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints  I 

The  l-lth.  I  this  day.  under  much  exercise  and  some  depression 
of  spirit,  attended  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders  for 
New  England,  held  at  Portsmouth.  This  was  a  season  of  much 
exercise  to  Friends,  l)eing,  as  I  thought,  a  low  time  with  Friends. 
The  business  that  came  forward  was  conducted  with  fear  and  trem- 
bling, and  also  with  much  harmony.  The  15th.  Being  First-day, 
and  was  a  time  of  deep  travail  of  sjjirit  with  me.  I  attended  two 
large  meetings  for  public  worship  held  at  Portsmouth,  one  in  the 
forenoon  and  the  other  in  the  afternoon.  In  both  these  meetings  I 
Avas  silent,  under  much  pressure  of  spirit,  my  mind  being  impressed 
with  a  sense  of  the  necessity  of  the  minister  of  Christ  being  Avell 
skilled  in  the  knowledge  of  faith  and  doctrine,  and  also  of  only 
handling  such  doctrine  as  is  connected  with  his  religious  exj)erience, 
knoAving  that  no  man  can  preach  the  true  gospel  Avithout  the  im- 
mediate interposition  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  Great  Head  of 
the  Church,  the  minister  of  the  sanctuary  and  true  tabernacle 
Avhich  the  Lord  pitched,  and  not  man.  ScA'eral  ministering  friends 
had  good  service  in  these  tAvo  meetings  for  the  Lord,  so  that  to 
many  these  meetings  were  made  a  season  of  divine  visitation. 

The  16th.  This  morning  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends  for 
Xew  England  was  ojjened  at  XcAvport,  on  Rhode  Island,  which  Avas 
held  by  adjournments  till  the  20th,  inclusiA'C.  This  Yearly  Meet- 
ing was  a  A'ery  interesting  season,  and  a  time  Avhich  will  be  grate- 
fully remembered  by  many.  Beside  a  large  number  of  Friends  in 
the  ministry  from  other  Y^early  Meetings,  there  Avere  in  attendance 
more  than  the  ordinary  pro])ortion  of  members  from  the  remote 
branches  of  the  Yearly  Meeting.  Amongst  the  important  subjects 
which  claimed  the  close  consideration  of  Friends,  that  of  the 
guarded,  religious  and  literary  education  of  the  youth  Avas  one ;  and 
this  very  interesting  subject  was  entered  upon  Avith  that  zeal  and 
earnestness  which  its  importance  demanded,  and  I  thought  that  the 
interest  which  impressed  the  minds  of  Friends  on  this  concern 
promised  beneficial  results.  Feelings  of  brotherly  harmony  and 
concern  for  the  general  Avelfare  of  the  body  appeared  to  prevail 


98  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  1834 

throughout  the  sittings  of  tlie  meeting,  under  the  cementing  influ- 
ence of  that  love  which  constitutes  the  Church  of  Christ  one  com- 
pact body.  I  greatly  desire  that  this  precious  feeling,  the  unity  of 
the  spirit  in  the  bond  of  true  peace,  wherein  the  members  of  the 
spiritual  family  love  each  other  without  dissimulation,  in  a  pure 
heart,  fervently,  may  more  and  more  obtain  in  every  portion  of  our 
small  but  favored  community,  for  we  have  been  a  highly  favored 
people. 

When  I  consider  the  preciousness  of  the  testimonies  which 
Friends  as  a  people  are  called  to  hold  forth  to  the  world,  the  im- 
portant influence  they  have  already  produced  upon  the  professors 
of  Christianity,  the  gradual  advancement  and  ultimate  triumph  to 
which  they  are  designed,  and  the  effect  which  tlie  faithfulness  of  the 
Society  may  have  in  hastening  the  happy  day  when  they  shall  be  uni- 
vei'sally  acknowledged,!  cannot  repress  the  ardent  desire  that  through 
submission  to  the  power  and  leadings  of  the  Holy  Spirit  (which 
crucifies  to  the  love  and  pursuits  of  the  world,  and  separates  from 
its  corrupt  maxims  and  customs,  and  from  everything  that  would 
defile),  we  may  be  prej^ared  as  a  people  to  hold  up  a  clear  and  con- 
sistent example  to  all  around  us,  and  adorn  our  high  and  holy 
profession  by  a  life  of  righteousness  and  self-denial,  "'perfecting 
holiness  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord." 

My  mind  during  this  Yearly  Meeting  was  deeply  impressed  with 
a  living  concern  for  the  preservation  of  our  religious  Society,  de- 
siring that  Friends  may  always  keep  on  that  ground  to  which  those 
were  called  who  were  made  instruments  in  the  Lord's  hand  to 
gather  us  to  be  a  people  and  to  be  a  light  in  the  world.  Those 
bright  sons  of  the  morning  suffered  much  in  maintaining  the  vari- 
ous testimonies  of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  and  in  their  suffering  they 
lived  nigh  unto  God  in  the  spirit  of  their  mmds,  and  became  well 
versed  in  the  knowledge  of  the  holy  scriptures,  and  also  well  skilled 
in  the  faith,  the  hope  and  the  doctrine  of  the  everlasting  gospel,  so 
that  they  were  enabled  in  the  Lord's  holy  power  to  go  forth  and 
sustain  the  cause  of  truth  whenever  an  attack  was  made  upon  it  by 
its  adversaries.  They  believed  in  what  Christ  has  done  for  us  with- 
out us  as  well  as  what  he  does  for  us  within  us,  and  they  were  true 
believers  in  the  leadings  of  God's  spirit  ;  and  if  Friends  move  forth 
under  the  guidance  of  this  blessed  spirit,  and  maintain  the  ground 
in  all  things  which  they  maintained,  the  Lord,  witii  his  protecting 
power,  will  guard  and  sustain  on  every  hand,  and  more  and  more 
consistent  with  his  design,  cause  us  to  be  a  blessing  to  the  people  of 
the  eartii. 

The  2Lst.  I  this  day  attended  Westport  Monthly  Meeting,  and 
through  divine  mercy  found  good  service  for  the  Lord  ;  and  the 
next  day,  being  First-day,  I  held  two  meetings,  the  first  at  Center, 
in  the  morning,  and  the  other  at  Newtown",  in  the  evening.  In 
tliese  meetings  truth  reigned  over  all.     Blessed  be  the  name  of  the 


1S34  JOURNAL    OF    THOMAS    ARNETT.  99 

Lordl  The  'lod,  I  lield  ii  good  open  meeting  at  Smith's  Neck,  and 
also  another  highly  favored  meeting  on  the  :24th  at  Allen's  Neck. 
The  Lord  in  these  meetings  was  with  me,  and  enabled  me  to  handle 
doctrine  consistent  with  his  will.  The  25th.  This  was  a  day  of 
much  dejiression  of  spirit  with  me.  Oh  !  how  I  desired  to  live 
near  my  Divine  Master,  and  to  go  forth  through  this  life  consistent 
with  his  blessed  will,  being  willing  on  all  occasions  to  endure  the 
cross  and  to  bear  the  reproach  of  Christ  with  patience  and  self- 
denial.  I  this  day  attended  Dartmouth  Monthly  Meeting,  and 
found  it  to  be  my  duty  to  sit  in  suifering  silence.  The  meeting 
was  large.  Many  attended  who  were  not  members,  but  I  had  noth- 
ing for  them  ;  a  testimony,  however,  was  delivered  by  a  ministering 
friend,  to  good  satisfaction.  Here  my  dear  friend,  Abraham 
Russel,  of  this  meeting.  Joined  me  as  a  companion  while  on  this 
journey. 

The  ^Gth,  we  attended  New  Bedford  Monthly  Meeting,  and 
found  some  interesting  Friends,  amongst  whom  I  had  good  service 
to  their  satisfaction,  and  the  next  day  we  held  appointed  meetings 
at  Acushnet  and  Long  Plain.  In  these  meetings  the  Lord's  power 
eminently  prevailed,  to  the  tendering  and  humbling  of  many  minds. 
Praised  forever  be  his  holy  name  I 

The  28th.  We  traveled  this  day  about  twenty-five  miles  to  the 
neighborhood  of  Sandwich,  and  on  the  29th,  being  First-day,  we 
visited  the  meeting  of  Friends  in  this  vicinity,  and  had  a  good, 
open,  and  watering  time.  In  the  evening  we  held  a  meeting  in  the 
village  of  Sandwich,  in  the  Methodist  meeting  house,  which  was 
large  and  much  favored  with  counsel  and  doctrine  ;  the  meeting 
ended  to  good  satisfaction. 

The  ."JOth.  This  was  a  day  of  much  divine  favor  with  me;  the 
Lord  was  pleased  to  be  with  me,  and  to  ojien  my  mind,  in  som,e 
measure,  to  contemplate  his  wonders,  mercy,  and  goodness,  so  that 
I  had  cause  to  sing  praises  to  his  blessed  and  worthy  name.  AYe 
held  a  meeting  at  Friends'  Meeting  house  of  Falmouth,  which  was 
large,  and  through  divine  mercy  was  made  a  jirecious  and  heaven- 
ly season,  the  good  seed  was  reached  and  the  evil  chained  down  in 
many  ;  the  meeting  closed  with  thankfulness  to  the  Lord.  In  the 
evening  we  held  a  large  and  good  meeting  in  the  village  of  Fal- 
mouth, in  the  Methodist  meeting  house;  the  Lord's  presence  was 
with  us,  in  the  opening  of  which  I  thought  that  doctrine  flowed 
freely  to  the  edification  and  humbling  of  many  minds.  May  all 
praise  be  ascribed  to  him  who  is  the  giver  of  every  good  and  per- 
fect gift!  for  without  him  we  can  do  nothing  that  will  avail  the 
salvation  of  the  immortal  and  never-dying  soul. 

Seventh  month  1st.  We  this  morning  in  company  with  about 
fifty  Friends  went  on  board  a  vessel  for  Nantucket,  in  order  to  at- 
tend the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends  there  ;  after  setting  sail  the 
wind  became  so  unfavorable  for  our  voyage  that  the  captain  of  the 


100  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKNETT.  im 

vessel  at  length  informed  us  that  it  was  out  of  the  question  to  land 
us  on  Xantucket  on  that  day,  but  that  he  thought  he  could  land 
us  on  Martini's  Alneyard  for  the  night  and  go  to  Nantucket  the 
next  morning,  so  that  after  being  on  the  water  six  hours,  we  landed 
on  Martha's"  Vineyard,  and  the  next  morning  we  set  out  at  four 
o'clock,  and  after  having  a  perilous  voyage,  we  landed  on  Xan- 
tucket  in  time  to  attend  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  ministers  and 
elders.  I  was  this  day  much  cast  down  in  tlie  spirit  of  my  mind. 
0  !  how  I  desired  to  live  near  tlie  Lord  all  the  days  of  my  life. 

The  3d  came  on  the  Quarterly  Meeting  for  discipline.  Through 
divine  help,  the  business  of  the  meeting  was  conducted  with  Chris- 
tian harmony.  I  was  silent  under  very  deep  exercise  throughout 
this  meeting.  While  sitting  in  this  meeting  and  ruminating  on  the 
state  of  our  religious  society,  I  clearly  saw  the  want  of  Friends 
living  nearer  one  to  another,  and  to  the  blessed  truth,  so  that  we 
may  be  a  deeper  people  in  the  knowledge  of  the  Christian  religion. 
0  !  how  I  mourned  in  seeing  the  want  of  more  depth  in  many  who 
profess  with  us.  Several  Friends  in  the  ministry  from  a  distance 
attended  this  Quarterly  Meeting,  some  of  whom  had  much  good 
service  for  the  Lord.  The  meeting  closed  with  thanksgiving  to  tlie 
Lord. 

Tlie  4th.  We  attended  two  meetings  for  divine  worshi]),  which 
were  ap]iointed  by  divers  Friends  in  the  ministry  from  a  distance, 
who  had  good  service.  I  was  silent  under  very  deep  exercise  in 
in  which  I  was  preserved  in  patience,  believing  the  Lord  would 
sanctify  this  my  deep  exercise.  I  spent  the  5th  in  Avriting  and 
meditation,  being  much  retired  in  my  mind  before  the  Lord. 

The  Gth,  being  First-day,  and  also  a  day  of  much  divine  favor, 
the  Lord  was  graciously  pleased  to  be  with  me  in  a  manner  such  as 
to  enable  me  to  praise  his  ever  blessed  name.  We  attended  the 
morning  and  afternoon  meeting  of  Friends  on  this  island,  both  of 
which  were  very  large,  and  mercifully  owned  by  the  good  Shepherd 
of  Israel.  I  was  opened  this  day  in  gosiiel  ministry  to  admiration, 
and  to  the  humility  of  many  minds.  Doctrine  and  counsel  flowed 
freely.  The  Lord  was  present  by  his  invincible  power,  in  which  he 
enabled  us  to  offer  both  the  morning  and  evening  tribute  of  praise 
to  his  worthy  name,  so  that  this  was  a  day  of  groat  refreshing  to 
Friends  here.     May  all  praise  be  ascribed  to  (iod  foi'cverl 

The  7th.  We  this  day  visited  in  gospel  love  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  the  families  of  Friends,  who  through  indisposition  of  body, 
are  not  able  to  attend  meeting  :  in  this  service  the  Lord  was  with 
me  and  gave  me  a  word  in  season,  and  in  the  life  for  the  sick  and 
afHicted  in  spirit,  so  that  we  had  cause  to  praise  his  name  for  his 
goodness  to  us  this  day.  In  the  evening  we  held  a  meeting  for  the 
youth  of  this  island,  which  was  well  attended,  and  in  which  there 
was  great  sobriety  ;ind  stillness :  the  Lord's  power  eminently 
jirevailed  to  the  contrition  and  humbling  of  many  minds.    The  doc- 


im  JOUIIN'AL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  101 

trine  of  Christian  redemption  flowed  freely,  in  which  was  set  forth 
the  great  necessity  of  conversion  to  God,  regeneration,  and  holi- 
ness. I  hope  that  an  impression  was  formed  this  evening  in  the 
minds  of  some  that  will  not  he  soon  erased.  The  meeting  closed  with 
prayer  and  thanksgiving  to  our  Heavenly  Father. 

There  are  on  this  island  many  valuable  Friends,  who  very  well 
understand  the  laws  of  hospitality.  My  lot  was  never  cast  amoiigst 
more  feeling  and  sympathizing  Friends  in  all  my  travels.  They  know 
well  how  to  feel  for  a  poor,  solitary  traveler  as  I  am.  The  reciprocal 
impression  that  was  formed  between  me  and  them  will  not  sdon  be 
erased,     ^fay  the  Lord  bless  them  forevei'  more  I 

The  8th.  We  this  day,  after  receiving  many  very  alfectionate 
fai'owell  visits  of  Friends,  who  took  their  leave  of  us  wilh  tears  and 
much  brokenness  of  heart,  recommending  me  to  God.  and  to  his 
holy  keejiing,  praying  in  the  sp)irit  with  prayer  and  supplicntion  for 
my  preservation,  desiring  that  my  mouth  may  be  opened  boldly  to 
make  known  the  mystery  of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  left  Nantucket 
and  went  on  board  the  steamboat,  and  in  about  four  hours  after 
leaving  the  island  we  were  landed  on  the  main  land  in  the  vicinity 
of  Falmouth,  with  thankful  hearts  to  the  Lord  for  his  mercies. 

The  9th.  We  this  morning  set  out  for  Yarmouth,  where  we  ar- 
rived in  the  evening.  On  our  way,  we  called  at  a  tavern  for  some 
refreshment.  After  being  there  awhile,  the  tavern  keeper,  who  was 
a  Unitarian,  finding  out  what  my  religious  profession  was,  made  a 
violent  attack  on  the  divine  character  of  onr  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ,  asserting  that  he  was  not  God,  and  denying  the  testi- 
mony of  scripture  in  regard  to  the  three  that  bear  record  in  heaven, 
"the  Father,  the  Word,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  these  three  are 
One."  0  I  how  my  spirit  mourned  to  hear  such  heart-ai)palling 
assertions  as  these :  I  felt  myself  called  upon  to  stand  forth  for  the 
character  of  my  dear  Lord  and  Master,  who  suffered  in  his  holy 
body  for  me  and  for  all  mankind  ;  in  his  holy  fear  and  love  to  this 
poor  man,  I  appealed  to  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  thereby  was  en- 
abled, through  divine  ability,  to  prove  the  eternal  Deity  of  Jesus 
Christ,  and  the  doctrine  of  the  atonement,  and  of  the  three  that 
bear  record,  in  heaven,  the  Father,  the  Word,  and  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and  that  these  three  are  One  in  divine  being,  in  eternity, 
in  glory,  and  in  majesty.  He  finding  that  he  could  not 
refute  these  important  scripture  doctrines,  flew  into  a  passion 
and  gave  me  some  abusive  language,  accusing  me  of  going  about 
and  condemning  all  that  would  not  unite  with  my  religious  senti- 
ments; which  charge  I  told  him  I  was  clear  of,  for  that  I  believed 
that  there  were  many  in  other  Christian  denominations  who  were 
true  believers  in  Jesus  Ciirist,  and  with  whom  my  spirit  felt  fellow- 
ship in  the  seed  of  everlasting  life;  withal,  whose  practices  in  re- 
gard to  some  non-essentials  I  did  not  fully  unite  with,  but  that  I 
was  very  far  from  condemning  such  Christians.     He  then  retorted 


102  JOUKXAL    OF   THOMAS   AKNETT.  1834 

on  our  Religious  Society  for  disowning  the  Hicksitcs,  accusing  us  of 
being  an  overbearing  people,  asserting  that  the  Hicksites  wei'o  bet- 
ter than  we  were,  and  that  we  had  no  right  to  disown  them.  I  told 
him  that  we  had  a  just  right  to  disown  them,  because  they  esi)ouse(l 
spurious  doctrine,  such  as  he  was  vindicating,  and  that  sxrh  due- 
trine  was  not  our  doctrine,  and  that  we  intended  to  disown  all  that 
publicly  embraced  it,  because  we  w  ere  commanded  by  the  great 
head  of  the  church  "to  have  no  felloAvship  with  the  unfruitful 
works  of  darkness,  but  rather  reprove  them."  Before  we  left  him 
I  calmly  and  disjjassionately  warned  him  of  the  awful  consequences 
of  unbelief,  and  set  forth  before  him  the  only  means  by  which  we 
could  be  saved;  that  there  was  no  other  name  given  under  heaven 
v/hereby  we  could  be  saved  but  by  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ.  He 
appeared  in  some  degree  to  feel  the  weight  of  these  remarks,  and 
became  more  serious  in  his  mind;  so  we  parted  with  him,  leaving 
an  impression  which  I  hope  will  not  l)e  soon  erased.  My  mind 
mourned  this  evening  over  the  prevalency  of  sin  in  the  world.  0, 
how  I  desire  the  salvation  of  all  I  the  worth  of  souls  feeling  near 
me  in  the  seed  of  everlasting  life. 

The  10th,  we  held  a  meeting  at  Yarmouth.  The  j^eople  in  the 
fore  part  were  too  outward,  and  not  much  settled  in  their  minds; 
but  after  I  spoke  a  little  on  the  importance  of  divine  worship, 
they  became  more  centered  down  in  mind,  so  that  we  had  a  pretty 
good  meeting.  This  afternoon  and  the  next  day  we  traveled  to 
the  neighborhood  of  Pembroke,  and  the  12th,  we  sjaent  at  a  Friend's 
house,  where  I  wrote  a  letter  to  my  beloved  wdfe,  feeling  my  mind 
turned  toward  her  in  gospel  love.  The  13th,  we  held  two  meetings 
in  this  neighborhood,  being  First-day,  one  in  the  forenoon  at 
Friends'  meeting  house  and  the  other  in  the  evening  at  a  Method- 
ist meeting  house.  Both  these  meetings  were  large,  and  much 
favored  with  doctrine  and  counsel.  The  poor  in  spirit  were  en- 
couraged, and  sinners  were  called  to  repentance.  Blessed  for- 
ever be  the  name  of  the  Lord! 

The  14th.  AV'e  this  morning  set  out  for  Lyjin,  where  we  ar- 
rived in  the  evening.  This  was  a  day  of  peace  and  cpiietness  to  my 
mind.  Much  pleasing  meditation  engaged  the  attention  of  my 
mind,  in  remembering  the  immensity  of  God's  works,  his  good- 
ness, his  power,  and  his  glory.  The  15th.  We  this  day  held  a 
public  meeting  in  the  city  of  Boston  for  divine  worship,  which 
was,  through  divine  help,  made  a  pretty  good  season.  The  Uith. 
We  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at  Lynn.  This  was  a  day 
of  much  exercise  with  me.  My  spirit  travailed  with  the  suffer- 
ing seed.  I  found  some  good  service  for  the  Lord,  so  that  the 
meeting  ended  well;  and  w^e  this  evening  rode  to  Salem,  Avhich 
was  a  time  of  much  inward  ba})tism  to  my  poor  soul;  and  on 
the  ITth  we  attended  Friends'  meeting  at  Salem,  which  was  to 
me   an  exercising  time.     Truth,    however,    so   arose   that    I    was 


1834  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  103 

favored  in  testimony  and  in  prayer.  On  the  18th  we  rode  about 
twenty-five  miles  to  West  N^ewbury,  wliere  we  spent  the  ]9tli  at  a 
Friend's  lionse.  I  was  engaged  on  this  day  in  writing,  reading, 
and  religious  meditation. 

The  20th,  being  "First-day,  we  held  a  meeting  in  the  forenoon 
at  West  Xewbury.  The  state  of  the  minds  of  the  people  was 
low.  The  fear  of  the  Lord  was  not  before  them.  They  were 
too  indifferent  in  regard  to  their  eternal  well-being.  This  made 
hard  work  for  me.  I  with  much  fear  and  trembling  bore  the 
testimony  of  truth,  and  warned  them  to  fear  the  Lord  and  seek 
to  be  prepared  for  death.  I  often  meet  with  many  of  this  de- 
scription in  passing  to  and  fro  in  the  world  for  the  defense  of  the 
gospel.  They  appear  to  live  as  though  they  thought  they  would 
never  die.  The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  not  before  their  eyes,  and 
they  love  the  world  far  more  than  the  cross  of  Christ.  In  the 
evening  we  held  a  meeting  at  Amesbury,  which  was  very  large. 
People  of  various  persuasions  attended,  amongst  whom  there  were 
Unitarians,  Universalists  and  others.  When  the  meeting  became 
still,  the  Lord  raised  me  up  in  public  testimony,  and  enabled  me  to 
stand  forth  in  the  defense  of  his  everlasting  gospel,  so  that  the 
states  of  the  people  were  seasonably  spoken  to,  the  sincere  were  en- 
couraged and  sinners  were  called  to  repentance.  The  meeting 
closed  with  prayei-. 

The  21st.  We  this  morning  held  a  small  meeting  at  Seabrook, 
which  was  a  low  time.  I  however  found  a  short  testimony  to  de- 
liver. There  were  some  sincere  hearted  ones  here,  who  were  en- 
couraged. 

For  some  time  past  my  poor  mind  has  been  much  cast  down.  I 
have  had  to  mourn  for  the  want  of  more  solid  experience  and  relig- 
ious depth  in  our  Society,  and  I  have  had  to  go  down  in  baptism 
and  travail  with  the  oppressed  seed  in  others.  I  beseech  thee,  0, 
my  God,  to  preserve  and  sustain  me  in  all  the  afflicting  and  con- 
flicting dispensations  of  this  life.  Without  thee  I  can  do  nothing. 
0,  therefore  have  mercy  upon  me  and  enable  me  to  go  forth  in  this 
world  consistent  with  thy  blessed  will.  May  all  praise  be  ascribed 
to  thee,  both  now  and  forevermore.     Amen. 

The  22d.  We  this  day  held  a  meeting  at  Epping,  which  was 
small,  but  through  divine  aid  was  made  a  ])recious  opportunity. 
My  mind  was  set  at  liberty,  to  the  comfort  of  Friends. 

The  23il,  we  attended  Dover  Monthly  Meeting,  where  my  mind 
was  opened  in  a  close  and  searching  testimony,  setting  forth  to 
Friends  the  great  need  there  was  in  many  instances  of  being  deeper 
in  the  root  of  immortal  life.  This  was  a  pretty  good  meeting,  and 
it  ended  well. 

The  24th,  we  held  two  meetings,  one  in  the  forenoon  at  Meaders- 
borough,  and  the  other  in  the  afternoon  at  Rochester.  In  these 
meetings  my  mind  was  much  opened  in  gospel  love.     The  sincere 


104  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARXETT.  1834 

were  much  encouraged  to  hold  on  their  ^y^ly  in  well  doing,  and  sin- 
ners were  called  to  repentance.  The  Lord's  name  was  magnified  in 
these  meetings.  May  all  praise  be  ascribed  to  him  forever  I  for 
he  is  worthy.  On  the  'loth,  we  attended  Berwick  Monthly  Meet- 
ing, where  we  found  some  valuable  Friends.  My  mind  was  opened 
in  a  lively  doctrinal  testimony  to  the  satisfaction  of  Friends.  The 
meeting  ended  to  good  satisfaction.  We  wei'e  very  kindly  enter- 
tained this  niglit  at  the  dwelling  house  of  our  dear  friends, 
Jolm  Meader  and  his  wife  Elizabeth.  These  Friends  are  valuable 
ministers  of  our  Eeligious  Society,  and  have  traveled  much  in 
truth's  service  to  good  satisfaction.  They  had  mucii  sympathy 
with  me  in  this  great  undertaking,  and  desired  my  encouragement. 
We  affectionately  parted  with  these  dear  friends  on  the  2Gth,  and 
traveled  about  forty  miles  to  Portland;  and  the  next  day,  being- 
First-day,  we  attended  Friends'  meeting  of  Falmouth  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  in  the  afternoon  we  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  in 
Portland.  At  both  these  meetings  I  found  much  good  service  for 
the  Lord.  My  soul  was  much  set  at  liberty.  Both  doctrine  and 
admonition  flowed  freely.  The  power  of  truth  was  over  all.  May 
the  Lord  be  glorified  forever  I  for  he  is  worthy. 

The  28th.  We  set  out  this  morning  and  traveled  about  twenty 
miles  to  the  neighborhood  of  Durham.  I  felt  very  poor  this  day 
in  the  spirit  of  my  mind.     I  prayed  for  the  Lord's  mercy. 

The  29th.  A  day  to  be  remembered.  My  mind  this  morning  was 
brouglit  under  deep  exercise.  A  fervent  travail  was  renewed  in 
me,  not  only  for  my  own  preservation  in  the  way  of  eternal  peace, 
but  also  for  the  salvation  of  the  world.  My  mind  was  impressed 
with  a  sense  of  the  immense  value  of  immortal  souls,  so  that  I  was 
l>owed  in  prayer  and  supplication  for  tlie  well-being  of  all  mankind. 
\\  c  this  forenoon  held  a  meeting  at  Durham  which  was  large,  and 
tlie  Lord  s  great  power  was  present,  and  was  over  all,  to  tlie 
glory  of  his  name.  Gospel  ministry  freely  flowed.  ]My  lieart  was 
enlarged  and  my  mouth  was  opened  to  make  known  his  goodness, 
to  the  tendering  and  ]iumbiing*of  man}^  minds.  In  the  afternoon 
we  held  a  good  open  meeting  at  Pownall.  May  all  praise  be  for- 
ever ascribed  to  God  and  to  the  LandjI  for  his  mercy  is  from  gener- 
ation to  generation,  and  his  providence  over  all  his  Avorks. 

The  ;50th.  We  held  a  pretty  good  open  meeting  at  Lewistown,  for 
Friends  and  otliers,  and  in  the  evening  by  early  candle-light  we 
held  a  meeting  at  Lisbon  factory  village,  in  a  public  meeting-house 
built  for  different  societies.  The  Lord  was  present  to  the  glory  of 
liis  name.  He  gave  me  ability  and  utterance,  to  the  rejoicing  of 
the  tender-minded.     Praised  forever  be  his  holy  name! 

Tlie  31st.  AVe  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at  Leeds,  being 
their  meeting-day  in  course.  After  sitting  some  time  in  silence, 
with  sincere  engagement  of  mind,  the  Lord  was  ])leased  to  give  me 
a  short  but  ciicdui'.'iuing  testinionv,  to  the  comfort  of  the  tender- 


1834  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS   AKNETT.  105 

minded,  so  that  the  meeting  closed  with  thankful  hearts  to  the 
great  Shepherd  of  Israel  for  his  continued  goodness  and  mercy  to 
his  meek  and  lowly  followers. 

8th  mo.  1st.  We  this  day  held  a  meeting  at  Winthrop,  which  was 
an  exercising  time  to  my  mind.  Tlie  Lord,  however,  granted  abil- 
ity and  utterance  for  the  states  of  the  people  spoken  to.  The  meet- 
ing ended  with  prayer  and  supplication  to  the  Lord. 

The  '^nd.  We  this  day  held  a  good  open  and  heavenly  meeting  at 
Litchfield,  Avhich  was  well  attended  by  Friends  and  others,  amongst 
whom  my  mouth  was  largely  opened  in  gosj^el  love.  Truth  reigned 
over  all,  and  the  Lord's  name  was  glorified.  May  all  praise  and 
glory  be  ascribed  to  him  forever,  for  he  is  worthy! 

The  3rd  being  First-day,  we  this  forenoon  held  a  large  and  open 
meeting  at  Sidney.  Doctrine  and  counsel  went  forth  to  the  hum- 
bling of  many  minds.  In  the  evening  we  held  a  meeting  in  the 
public  town  house  of  Belgrade,  mostly  for  those  not  of  our  society. 
This  was  a  large  and  crowded  meeting,  in  which  my  mind  was 
opened  in  the  doctrine  of  vital  regeneration,  to  the  tender  contrition 
of  many  souls.  Some  were  broken  into  tears,  and  toward  the  close 
of  the  meeting  a  woman  who  was  in  connection  with  the  Baptist 
Society  arose,  and,  "with  much  brokenness  of  heart  and  with  tears, 
openly  declared  with  fear  and  trembling,  "that  what  had  been  of- 
fered in  the  meeting  was  the  truth,  and  would  stand  forever."  The 
meeting  closed  with  prayer  and  supplication  to  the  Lord,  Avho  is 
worthy  over  all. 

The  4th.  We  this  day  held  a  large  and  crowded  meeting  at  i*'air- 
field.  More  people  turned  out  than  could  get  in  the  house.  This 
was  a  solemn  time.  The  meeting  apjoeared  to  be  hushed  into  true 
silence  and  stillness,  and  the  Lord's  searching  testimony  went  forth 
to  the  reaching  of  the  good  seed  in  many  hearts.  The  sincere  were 
encouraged,  and  sinners  were  called  to  repentance.  1'he  meeting 
closed  with  thankful  hearts  to  the  Lord  for  all  his  sure  mercies. 

The  5th.  I  was  this  day  brought  into  deep  and  close  considera- 
tion in  respect  to  the  great  responsibility  that  devolved  upon  me  in 
going  forth  for  the  dissemination  of  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel  of 
Jesus  Christ,  in  which  1  entered  into  a  solemn  and  imparlJal  retro- 
spect and  scrutiny  of  my  past  life;  and  with  much  fear  and  trem- 
bling I  had  great  cause  thankfully  and  reverently  to  acknowledge 
the  unmerited  mercy  and  goodness  of  the  Lord.  0,  how  I  desired 
more  and  more  to  deepen  in  tlie  root  of  immortal  life,  and  to  be 
fully  devoted  to  the  divine  will  all  the  days  of  my  life,  that  I  may 
dwell  in  the  house  of  the  Lord  as  long  as  I  live,  to  behold  his  beauty 
and  inquire  in  his  temple,  and  that  his  blessed  will  alone  may  ever 
actuate  me  and  preserve  and  sustain  me  on  every  hand  in  prose- 
cuting his  work,  for  without  him  I  can  do  nothing.  We  this  after- 
noon held  a  meeting  in  the  village  of  Waterville,  to  pretty  good  sat- 
isfaction. My  mind  was  opened  in  truth's  testimony  to  the  peace 
thereof.     Praised  be  the  Lord  I 


106  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARXETT.  im 

The  Gtli.  I  was  this  day  brought  into  much  travail  of  spirit. 
My  heart  desired  nothing  but  to  be  engaged  in  doing  the  Lord's 
blessed  uill.  Prayer  and  supplication  in  the  spirit  flowed  freely  to 
him  for  his  protection  and  preservation.  We  had  a  meeting  at 
Wasselborough,  which  was  a  season  of  much  exercise.  The  Lord 
enabled  me  to  fieliver  a  ba^jtizing  testimony,  to  the  satisfaction  of 
Friends.  On  the  next  day  we  held  two  meetings,  one  at  the  Out- 
let in  the  forenoon,  and  the  other  at  the  Neck  in  the  afternoon. 
Both  these  meetings  were  good  and  favored  seasons.  The  Lord's 
name  be  glorified  forevermore! 

The  8tli.  We  held  a  good,  open  and  heavenly  meeting  at  China. 
The  power  of  truth  was  over  all,  and  the  divine  name  w^as  magni- 
fied. In  the  evening  we  held  a  small  meeting  at  Albion,  which  was 
rather  a  trying  and  suffering  time;  I,  however,  had  a  little  service. 

The  9th.  We  held  a  meeting  at  Unity,  which  was  a  precious  and 
heavenly  season.  The  Lord,  by  his  spirit,  was  near,  in  which  main'' 
souls  were  visited  and  broken  into  tenderness.  The  meeting  ended 
with  gratitude  to  him  for  all  his  sure  mercies. 

The  10th  being  First-day,  we  held  a  large  meeting  at  Brooks,  in 
which  my  mind  was  opened  to  a  good  degree  in  doctrine  and  ad- 
monition, to  good  satisfaction.     The  meeting  closed  with  prayer. 

The  11th.  We  held  a  meeting  at  the  Outlet  for  the  youth  and 
others.  This  meeting  was  large  and  eminently  owned  by  the  Good 
Shepherd  of  Israel.  The  Lord's  power  was  present,  and  his  con- 
vincing testimony  went  forth  to  the  huml)ling  and  tendering  of 
many  minds.  This  was  a  season  long  to  be  remembered  by  some, 
for  it  was  a  near  and  close  visitation  and  warning  to  a  number. 
The  meeting  appeared  to  be  hushed  down  into  true  stillness,  and  it 
closed  with  gratitude  to  the  Lord  and  love  one  to  another.  All 
praise  forever  be  ascribed  to  the  great  giver  of  every  good  and  per- 
fect gift,  for  he  alone  is  worthy  I 

The  12th.  AVe  spent  the  most  of  this  day  at  a  Friend's  house  and 
had  some  bodily  rest,  which  seemed  to  be  necessary,  for  we  were  a 
good  deal  fatigued  with  traveling.  My  mind  this  day  passed  through 
some  deep  exercises  and  close  baptisms.  Prayer  was  renewed  in  me 
to  the  Lord  for  a  renewal  of  his  sanctifying  j^ower  in  my  soul,  that 
I  may  experience  a  perfect  establishment  in  the  blessed  truth.  In 
the  evening  we  held  a  public  meeting  for  divine  worship  in  Au- 
gusta, in  the  Methodist  meeting-house,  in  which  I  was  enabled, 
through  divine  ability,  to  deliver  the  doctrine  of  Christian  re- 
demption with  tlie  authority  which  alone  can  be  experienced  in  the 
life  of  the  blessed  truth.  Praised  forever  be  the  holv  luime  of  the 
Lord! 

The  13t]i.  We  this  day  traveled  about  fifty  miles  to  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Friends  of  Windham,  and  on  the  next  day  we  held  a  large 
and  good  meeting  there.  The  blessed  power  of  truth  was  present, 
to  the  comfort  and  edification  of  friends,  and  the  day  following  we 
also  held  a  good  oi)en  meeting  at  Kaymond;  the  states  of  the  people 


1834  JOURNAL    OF   TUOMAS   ARNP^TT.  107 

were  livin.oly  spoken  to,  and  the  meeting  closed  with  prayer  to  tlie 
Lord  for  his  mercy  and  goodness.  Our  next  meeting  was  at  Gor- 
ham,  on  thelfith,  which  was  small,  and  which  was  also  a  trying  and 
proving  time  ;  ability,  however  was  at  length  given  for  me  to  clear 
my  mind  to  pretty  good  satisfaction,  so  that  although  it  was  a  time 
of  trial  for  the  want  of  Friends'  faithfulness,  yet  I  was  euabled  to 
discharge  my  duty  to  the  peace  of  my  own  mind. 

The  ITth  being  First-day,  we  on  this  day  held  two  meetings,  the 
one  in  the  forenoon  at  Livingston,  and  the  other  in  the  evening,  at 
Parsonsfield.  In  both  these  meetings  I  found  hard  work,  and  had 
to  mourn  over  some  that  were  careless  and  indifferent  in  regard  to 
their  eternal  well-being.  A  solemn  and  close  warning  went  forth 
in  that  pure  love  which  knows  no  bounds  ;  so  that  the  Lord  was 
with  me  this  day  and  preserved  and  sustained  me  consistent  with 
his  blessed  will.  May  all  praise  and  glory  be  forever  ascribed  to 
him  I 

The  18th.  We  this  day  traveled  about  thirty  miles  to  Friends^' 
settlement  in  North  Sandwich,  and  on  the  next  day  we  had  a  pretty 
full  meeting  there,  which,  in  the  fore  part  was  a  very  trying  time, 
the  people  not  being  settled  and  inwardly  gathered  in  the  spirit  of 
the  mind.  After  sitting  some  time  in  suffering  silence,  I  arose  and 
began  to  speak  a  little  in  much  weakness,  desiring  the  people  to 
gather  in  the  scattered  mind ;  and  as  I  kept  the  eye  single  to  my 
divine  Master,  truth  arose  in  a  good  degree  into  dominion,  so  that 
the  sincere  were  much  encouraged  to  hold  on  their  way,  and  sinners 
were  called  to  repentance.     Blessed  be  the  Lord  forever  I 

The  20th.  Attended  Sandwich  Preparative  Meeting  of  ministers 
and  elders.  A  day  of  much  exercise  and  secret  mourning  with  me, 
in  which  I  was  in  a  good  degree  patient. 

The  21st.  We  attended  Sandwich  Monthly  Meeting,  held  at  the 
South  meeting-house,  which  was  a  heavenly  and  baptizing  season. 
Many  precious  and  well-concerned  souls  were  present,  and  the  Lord 
mercifully  remembered  them,  for  he  opened  my  mouth  amongst 
them  in  the  constraining  power  of  gospel  love,  whereby  encourage- 
ment was  given  in  the  way  of  divine  life  and  peace. 

The  22nd.  We  had  a  good  and  open  meeting  at  Wolfsborough. 
I  trust  the  Lord's  name  was  glorified  this  day  in  this  meeting,  for 
he  granted  ability  whereby  praises  were  given  to  him.  The  23rd. 
We  had  a  meeting  at  New  Durham,  which  was  rather  a  low  time. 
I  was,  however,  favored  through  divine  mercy  to  speak  to  the  states 
of  the  people,  so  that  the  meeting  ended  well.  Blessed  be  the 
Lord  : 

The  24th  being  First-day,  Ave  held  a  meeting  in  the  morning  at 
Gilmantown  and  one  in  the  evening  at  Pittsfield  ;  both  these  meet- 
ings were  large  and  much  favored  with  the  doctrine  of  truth.  The 
25th.  We  this  day  traveled  about  thirty  miles  to  South  Weare,  and 
on  the  next  day  we  held  a  large  and  heavenly  meeting  there  ;  the 


108  JOTHNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  1834 

doctivne  of  Christian  redemption  was  delivered  in  the  demonstra- 
tion of  the  spirit  and  of  power  ;  truth  rejoiced  over  all.  This  was 
truly  a  heart-melting  season.  I  thought  every  rational  mind  was 
reached,  and  in  a  good  degree  humbled  before  the  Lord.  May  all 
praise  he  ascribed  to  him  now  and  forever,  for  he  alone  is  worthy  to 
be  glorified  by  saints  and  angels  I 

TliC  "^Tth.  We  this  day  held  two  meetings,  one  in  the  morning 
at  Xorth  Weare,  and  the  other  in  the  evening  at  Henniker.  These 
were  both  good  meetings  ;  the  Lord's  presence  was  with  us,  so  that 
we  were  enabled  to  give  glory  to  his  holy  name.  The  28th.  We 
traveled  about  forty  miles  to  Friends'  settlement  in  Unity,  and  on 
the  next  day  held  a  meeting  there,  which  was  a  pretty  good  season. 
The  meeting  closed  to  good  satisfaction.  The  next  day  we  traveled 
al)out  fifty  miles  to  Richmond  ;  a  day  of  serenity  and  peace  of  mind, 
praises  devoutly  ascended  to  the  Author  of  all  my  sure  mercies. 
The  31st  being  First-day,  we  had  a  large  meeting  at  Eichmond, 
wherein  I  found  some  good  service  for  the  Lord  ;  but  it  was  a  time 
in  which  I  had  to  move  with  some  weakness,  the  minds  of  the  peo- 
l^le  being  very  much  outward  ;  the  meeting,  however,  ended  pretty 
well,  for  Avhich  I  was  thankful  to  the  blessed  Redeemer  of  mankind. 

Ninth  mo.  1st.  We  this  day  traveled  to  Bolton,  and  on  the  next 
day  held  a  precious  heavenly  meeting  there.  The  Lord  was  with 
us  and  refreshed  our  poor  souls  to  our  humble  admiration.  May 
his  name  be  magnified  forever  !  The  3rd.  We  had  a  pretty  good 
open  meeting  at  Leicester.  The  4th.  A  day  of  deep  exercise  and 
much  divine  favor.  We  had  a  meeting  in  the  forenoon  at  Xorth 
Bridge,  and  one  in  the  afternoon  at  L^xbridge.  In  these  meetings 
truth  reigned  over  all.  The  5th.  We  held  two  meetings,  one  at 
Xorth  Mendon  in  the  morning,  and  the  other  at  South  Mendon  in 
the  evening.  These  meetings,  through  divine  mercy,  were  made 
refreshing  seasons.     Blessed  forever  be  the  name  of  the  Lord  ! 

The  0th.  This  was  a  day  of  deep  and  close  exercise  with  me  ; 
secret  mourning  was  renewed  in  me,  my  spirit  was  much  cast  down. 
I  travailed  in  the  spirit  of  my  mind  for  the  light  of  the  divine 
countenance,  and  for  my  preservation.  I  spent  this  day  at  a  Friends' 
house  in  writing  and  in  serious  retirement.  The  7th.  This  was  a 
day  to  be  remembered  by  many,  being  First-day  and  a  time  of  much 
divine  favor.  We  had  a  large  and  good  meeting  at  Upper  Smith- 
Hi'ld,  where  my  mind  was  largely  opened  in  Christian  doctrine,  to 
good  satisfaction.  In  the  evening  we  had  a  large  and  open  meeting 
at  Woonsocket,  in  the  Baptist  jneoting-house,  where  the  I^orcl  was 
with  me  and  enabled  me  to  declare  the  way  of  life  and  truth  to  good 
satisfaction.  On  this  day  I  received  the  following  letter  from  my 
dear  wife,  which  renewed  in  me  tender  and  Christian  sympathy  for 
lier,  being  sensible  of  her  trials  and  conflicts  : 


1831  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  109' 

Newhope,  Green  County,  Ohio,  Tth  mo.  30th,  IS;^. 
My  dear  and  loving  husband : 

I  do  this  morniDg  most  tenderly  and  affectionately  salute  thee, 
and  desire,  far  more  than  I  can  ntter,  thy  encouragement.  I  think 
I  can  say  with  sincerity,  "Go,  and  the  Lord  go  with  thee  till  thy 
mind  is  released.^'  I  can  assure  thee,  my  dear,  that  I  pass  through 
many  lonesome  hours,  and  at  times  I  am  most  cast  down  and  feel 
almost  ready  to  give  out  ;  but  the  language  which  salutes  me  in 
these  trying  seasons  is,  "  Be  patient  and  bear  thy  trials  with  Chris- 
tian fortitude,  putting  thy  trust  alone  in  the  Divine  Arm,  and  thou 
shalt  be  jireserved."  I  may  inform  thee,  my  dear,  that  soon  after 
I  last  wrote  to  tliee  I  was  taken  with  bodily  indisposition,  which 
continued  for  several  weeks  ;  my  health  was  found  to  be  so  on  the 
decline  that  I  submitted  my  case  to  a  jihysician,  by  whose  aid,  with 
Divine  mercy,  I  have  been  much  benelited,  for  which  I  am  truly 
thankful  to  the  Author  of  all  good.  I  am  now  pretty  well,  and 
hope,  with  proper  care,  I  shall  shortly  again  enjoy  my  usual  health. 
I  desire  thee  to  give  thyself  no  uneasiness  at  ail  on  account  of  my 
health  ;  for  although  I  feel  the  want  of  thy  company,  yet  I  am 
much  comforted  with  the  Christian  kindness  and  symjjathy  of  my 
dear  friends  and  relatives.  I  do  greatly  desire  thy  encouragement 
in  the  prosecution  of  thy  present  important  engagement  till  thy 
mind  is  fully  released.  I  thought  that  it  would  be  right  for  me  to 
give  thee  some  information  of  my  late  sickness,  not  to  discourage 
thee,  but  simply  to  let  thee  know  of  the  affliction  which  I  endure 
in  thy  absence.  I  can  assure  thee,  my  dear,  that  my  mind  is  often 
turned  toward  thee  with  sincere  desires  for  thy  preservation,  believ- 
ing the  Lord  will  bless  us  both  in  time  and  eternity  if  Ave  walk 
while  here  consistent  with  his  divine  will.  I  generally  receive  thy 
letters  in  due  time,  which  are  always  a  great  satisfactiun  to  me  and 
my  dear  friends.  Many  friends  very  affectionately  remember  their 
love  to  thee,  desiring  thy  encouragement  in  the  prosecution  of 
thy  journey,  as  truth  may  open  the  way.  In  conclusion,  I  desire 
that  the  blessed  truth  may  be  with  thee  and  preserve  and  sustain 
thee  on  every  hand.     In  gospel  love  I  bid  thee  affectionate  farewell. 

Eaciiel  Arnett. 

The  8th.  We  had  a  good  meeting  at  Burrilville.  My  mind  was 
much  opened  in  Christian  love;  the  people  were  tender  and  quiet, 
and  the  meeting  ended  with  prayer:  and  on  the  next  day  we  had  a 
small  but  pretty  good  meeting  at  Pomfort;  and  in  the  afternoon  we 
rode  to  Plainfield,  to  the  house  of  our  dear  and  kind  friend  Roland 
Greene,  where  we  were  entertained  with  Christian  attention  and 
sympathy.  This,  our  beloved  friend,  is  a  minister  in  good  esteem, 
and  has  traveled  much  in  truth's  service,  to  good  satisfaction.  We 
had  a  meeting  with  him  in  this  neighborhood  on  the  lOtli,  to  good 
satisfaction,  and  after  meeting  we  parted  affectionately  with  him 
desiring  each  other's  preservation. 


110  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  1834 

The  11th.  We  had  a  meeting  at  Foster,  which  was,  I  thought, 
in  a  good  degree  owned  by  the  blessed  truth.  The  meeting  closed 
with  prayer  and  supplication  to  the  Lord. 

The  13th.  We  had  a  small  but  open  meeting  at  Scituate;  my 
mind  was  much  opened  in  unfolding  the  nature  of  true  and  living- 
worship  to  (lod,  who  is  a  Spirit,  and  who  is  to  be  worshipped  in 
spirit  and  in  truth.  The  meeting  ended  well.  We  this  afternoon 
rode  to  the  city  of  Providence,  and  were  kindly  received  and  enter- 
tained by  onr  dear  friend  William  Almy,  who  is  a  minister  amongst 
Friends;  other  Friends  of  this  city  were  also  very  kind  to  us, 
amongst  whom  we  had  a  very  interesing  visit.  We  spent  the  next 
dav  in  the  Boarding  School  of  Friends  of  New  England  Yearly  Meet- 
ing, which  is  located  in  this  city,  for  the  education  of  our  youth.  I 
had  much  satisfaction  this  day  in  being  in  this  school,  believing  that 
it  was  a  good  Institution,  and  one  which  the  Lord  M^ill  bless  if  it  be 
consistent  with  his  Divine  will.  The  teachers  and  students  appeared 
to  have  in  a  good  degree  a  regard  for  the  blessed  truth,  and  for  the 
holy  Scriptures. 

The  14th,  being  First-day,  we  attended  Friends'  meeting  in  this 
city  in  the  morning,  and  in  the  afternoon  we  were  at  meeting  in  the 
Boarding  School,  both  of  which  meetings  were  times  of  much 
Divine  favor;  the  Lord  opened  my  mind  in  doctrine  and  counsel,  to 
comfort  and  good  satisfaction.  We  S2)ent  this  night  with  our  dear 
and  aged  friend,  Moses  Brown,  who  was  nearly  ninety-six  years  of 
age.  His  company  was  not  only  interesting  to  me,  but  also  edifying; 
he  was  able  to  attend  our  meetings  for  worship  and  discii)line,  and 
he  has  been  faithful  to  this  great  duty,  for  which  the  Lord  has 
blessed  him.  I  thought  it  might  be  said  of  him  that  "his  eye  was 
not  dim,  nor  his  natural  force  abated;"  he  appeared  to  be  a  pattern 
of  humility,  and  one  so  established  in  the  truth  that  he  shall  go  no 
more  out. 

The  loth.  We  had  a  meeting  this  morning  at  Lower  Smithfield, 
and  one  in  the  evening  at  Cumberland.  These  were  pretty  good  open 
opportunities;  the  Lord  had  mercy  on  us.  On  the  next  day  we  had 
a  large  and  heavenly  meeting  at  JMansfield;  truth  flowed  freely,  to 
our  humble  admiration  and  thankfulness. 

The  17th,  we  had  a  small  but  precious  meeting  at  Freetown;  the 
Lord  was  mercifully  with  us,  and  granted  ability  for  the  glory  of 
his  great  name.  On  the  next  day  we  had  a  precious  and  heavenly 
meeting  at  Somerset;  the  Lord  by  his  power  was  present,  under  the 
demonstration  of  which  many  souls  were  melted  down  in  tenderness 
and  thankfulness.     Blessed  forever  be  his  name! 

The  l'.)th.  We  this  morning  traveled  to  the  neighborhood  of 
Little  Compton,  and  spent  the  rest  of  the  day  at  a  Friend's  house. 
I  devoted  my  time  to  writing  and  religious  meditation,  and  had 
cause  to  be  thankful  to  the  Lord  for  all  liis  mercies  to  me;  and  0, 
that  I  may  dwell  in  his  house  all  the  days  of  my  life,  to  see  his  beauty, 
and   to  infpiire  in  his  lein])lel  for  in  the  time  of   trouble  he  will 


1834  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  Ill 

hide  me  in  liis  pavilion;  in  tlie  secret  of  his  tiibeniaelc  he  will  hide 
me  and  set  me  up  upon  a  rock;  this  will  be  his  sure  i)rotection  to 
them  that  love  him  and  dwell  in  his  house  always.  On  the  next 
day,  which  was  the  20th,  we  held  a  good  and  precious  meeting  in  this 
vicinity;  many  sober-minded  people  who  were  not  members  of  our 
Society  attended,  and  the  Lord's  power  being  present,  this  was 
made  a  heart-melting  opportunity.  I  was  much  opened  in  gospel 
ministry,  and  in  prayer  and  supplication;  the  hungry  and  thirsty 
were  much  encouraged  to  look  to  Jesus  for  true  peace,  who  is  the 
author  and  finisher  of  our  faith,  and  sinners  were  called  to  repent- 
ance in  the  love  of  the  gospel.  The  meeting  ended  with  thanksgiving 
to  the  Lord  for  his  love  and  mercy.  May  his  name  be  praised  for- 
ever, for  he  is  worthy  I 

The  21st,  being  First-day,  and  a  day  of  much  deep  religious  exer- 
cise with  me,  we  in  the  forenoon  attended  Tiverton  Meeting  of 
Friends,  and  in  the  afternoon  we  were  at  Friends'  meeting  in  the 
village  of  Fall  Eiver.  In  both  of  these  meetings  my  mind  was  impres- 
sively engaged  in  vocal  gospel  ministry,  to  good  satisfaction.  1  this 
evening  was  brought  down  in  the  spirit  of  my  mind  to  mourn  with 
the  oppressed  seed.  0,  how  I  desire  the  faithfulness  of  the  true 
and  secret  mourners  in  Zion,  believing  that  there  are  inany  who 
are  cast  down  when  the  oppressed  seed  mourns;  and  may  the 
Lord  in  his  infinite  mercy  and  goodness  preserve  and  sustain  these, 
to  the  glory  of  his  great  name !  This  was  a  deep  and  instructive 
evening  with  me;  the  holy  hand  was  upon  me  in  baptism,  so  that  it 
it  was  my  duty  to  be  still  in  my  mind  and  faithfully  abide  the  turn- 
ing and  overturning  of  the  Divine  hand  upon  me,  and  by  submitting 
my  all  to  him  who  liveth  forever  and  ever,  I  could  even  rejoice  in 
tribulation,  "knowing  that  tribulation  worketh  patience,  and  j^a- 
tience  experience,  and  experience  hope;  and  hope  maketh  not 
ashamed,  because  the  love  of  God  is  shed  abroad  in  our  hearts  by 
the  Holy  (rhost,  wdiich  is  given  unto  us."  So  that  it  is  of  great 
importance  for  the  true  believer  in  Jesus  Christ  to  be  patient  in  all 
the  afflicting  and  conflicting  dispensations  of  this  life,  having  no 
will  of  his  own,  but  submitting  his  all  to  him  who  died  for  us;  and 
he  who  serves  the  Lord  with  a  perfect  heart,  and  with  a  Avilling 
mind,  can  with  Christian  fortitude  rejoice  evermore,  pray  without 
ceasing,  in  everything  give  thanks,  and  not  quench  the  Spirit. 
He  who  thus  lives  near  the  divine  Master  and  is  led  by  the  Holy 
Spirit,  will  more  and  more  deepen  in  the  root  of  immortal  life. 

The  22nd.  1  this  morning, with  much  tenderness  of  feeling,  afi:ec- 
tionately  parted  Avith  my  dear  friend  Abraham  Iiussel,  who  was  my 
acceptable  companion  for  nearly  three  months;  he  now  feeling  his 
mind  released  from  this  service,  left  me  and  returned  home.  I  this 
day  (having  suitable  company)  held  a  good  and  precious  meeting 
at  Portsmouth,  and  in  the  afternoon  attended  a^  meeting  at  Fall 
Eiver,  on  a  funeral  occasion,  which  was  an  affecting  time  to  all 
who  were  present. 


112  JOUEXAL    OF   THOMAS    ARXETT.  is:« 

The  2'^Yd  we  traveled  about  twenty  miles  to  Providence.  This  was 
a  day  of  deep  travail  of  spirit  with  me;  sincere  prayer  was  I'enewed 
in  me  to  the  Father  of  all  our  sure  mercies  for  my  in-eservation.  0, 
how  I  desired  to  pi-ess  forward  in  the  way  of  the  cross,  and  come 
to  be  complete  in  Christ  Jesus,  that  I  may  go  forth  in  his  name  con- 
quering and  to  conquer,  being  fully  devoted  to  him  in  all  things. 

The  24th  we  attended  Providence  Monthly  Meeting,  Avhich 
through  divine  ability,  was  made  a  precious  and  heavenly  season; 
truth  reigned  over  all;  my  cup  was  filled  to  overflowing.  I  was 
enabled  to  deliver  a  doctrinal  testimony,  to  the  satisfaction  of 
Friends,  in  which  I  was  exercised  to  maintain  the  doctrine  of  the 
outAvard  and  inward  manifestation  of  our  Lord  and  Savior  Jesus 
Christ,  and  of  the  influences  of  the  Holy  .Spirit  on  the  human  mind 
according  to  the  Scriptures.  Friends  of  this  meeting  were  bap- 
tized into  true  gospel  sympathy  Avith  me,  and  they  very  much  desired 
my  encouragement  in  the  Avay  which  the  gospel  of  Christ  points  out. 
I  thought  tiiat  this  was  a  time  which  Avill  long  be  remembered  by 
many  for  good.  May  all  j^raise  be  ascribed  to  God  and  to  his  Avell- 
beloved  Son  forever,  for  he  alone  is  worthy,  noAV  and  forevermore! 

The  25tli  Ave  attended  Cranston  Preparative  Meeting,  and  found 
some  231'ecious,  Avell-concerned  Friends,  amongst  Avhom  avc  had  a 
good  baptizing  season.  In  the  evening  Ave  held  a  large  and  good 
meeting  at  a  Methodist  meeting-house  in  this  neighborhood;  the 
people  Avere  still  and  attentive,  and  doctrine  floAA'ed  to  edification 
and  comfort. 

The  2Gth  we  had  a  |»retty  good  open  meeting  at  Coventry, 
where  we  found  some  Avell-concerned  Friends.  In  the  evening  aa'g 
held  a  baptizing  meeting  in  the  village  of  Phoenix,  in  the  Baptist 
meeting-house,  AAdiich  Avas  a  free  and  open  time  for  the  doctrine  of 
truth;  the  people  Avere  very  still  and  attentiA^e,  and  the  meeting 
ended  to  good  satisfaction. 

The  27th,  Ave  in  the  forenoon  held  a  meeting  at  Centreville.  in 
the  Methodist  meeting-house,  and  in  the  afternoon  Ave  also  held  one 
at  the  Fulliugmill  village,  in  the  academy.  Both  these  meetings 
Avere  OAvned  by  the  ])lessed  truth;  the  doctrine  of  the  gospel  floAved 
freely,  to  the  comfort  of  many. 

The  28th  being  First-day,  we  held  a  good  and  full  meeting  at 
WavAvick,  Avhere  my  mind  A\'as  much  opened  in  unfolding  the  spir- 
ituality of  the  gosjiel  dispensation.  The  i)eo])le  Avere  quiet  and  atten- 
tive, and  appeared  to  be  Avell  satisfied  Avith  the  meeting,  those  avIio 
attended  being,  most  of  them,  members  of  other  religious  societies. 

The  29th  avc  attended  GreenAvich  Monthly  Meeting,  Avhere  my 
mouth  Avas  opened  with  a  living  testimony,  to  good  satisfaction. 
In  the  evening,  by  early  candle-light, avc  held  a  pretty  good  meeting 
at  Wickford,  for  Friends  and  others,  and  on  the  next  day  Ave  held 
a  good  and  open  meeting  at  Kingston,  in  the  Presbyterian  meeting- 
house, Avhere  my  mind  Avas  much  opened  on  the  doctrine  of  Chris- 
tianity, to  good  satisfaction. 


18:{I  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    AKNETT.  11:!; 

Tenth  month  1st.  We,  this  day  attended  the  Western  Meeting 
of  Friends  (so  ealled)  to  good  satisfaction,  the  Lord's  hiiptisinj)^ 
power  being  present  to  our  mutual  help  and  strength. 

The  2nd  we  attended  South  Kingston  Meeting  of  Friends  and  in 
the  afternoon  hehl  one  at  Richmond.  In  both  these  meetings  my 
mind  was  in  a  good  degree  bai)tized  into  the  states  of  tlie  jjeople, 
and  ability  was  afforded  to  speak  suitable  thereto;  those  who 
loved  the  Lord  were  encouraged  to  persevere  in  tlie  way  of  self- 
denial,  and  the  forgetful  were  warned  to  flee  fi*om  the  wrath  {<> 
come  and  to  lead  a  new  life. 

The  3rd  we  held  a  good  and  full  meeting  at  Hopkintun.  My 
mind  this  morning  was  much  cast  down,  1  felt  very  poor  iu 
the  spirit  of  my  mind.  I  besought  the  Lord  to  have  mercy  on 
me.  I  renewedly  saw  that  without  him  I  could  do  no  good 
thing.  I  felt  my  entire  dependence  on  him  for  every  blessing, 
and  desired  more  and  more  t(j  live  near  him  all  the  days  of  my 
life,  that  I  may  enjoy  him  forever.  In  this  meeting  a  measure 
of  his  ])ower  was  renewed  in  me,  so  that  I  was  enabled  to  de- 
clare his  truth  to  the  satisfaction  of  Friends.  In  the  afternoon 
for  a  while  we  were  kindly  entertained  at  a  Friend's  house,  where 
several  Friends  of  this  neighborhood  being  present,  the  state  of  our 
religious  society  in  some  degree  was  brought  to  view,  and  some  dis- 
quisition in  relation  thereto  wiis  entered  into,  in  which  I  saw  the 
necessity  of  being  guarded  in  all. our  conversation,  especially  where 
detraction  in  any  degi'ce  is  countenanced,  I  felt  the  weight  of  this 
Scripture  remark:  "  Set  a  watch,  0  Lord,  before  my  mouth,  keep 
the  door  of  my  lips;"'  and  in  Christian  love  I  was  enabled  to  bear  a 
faithful  testimony  against  that  .spirit  which  would  i)ull  down  the 
true  pillars  of  the  church,  and  exalt  the  false  i)r(;phets  in' leading 
a  party  to  utter  destruction. 

The  4th.  We  this- day  went  to  Newport  on  Rhode  Island.  1  this 
day  enjoyed  sweet  peace  and  comfortMble  meditation  of  mind.  I 
sang  secret  praises  to  the  Lord  for  all  his  mercies  and  goodness  to 
me.       May  his  holy  name  be  praised  forever! 

The  5th  being  First-day,  we  attended  the  fore  and  afternoon 
meeting  of  Friends  in  Newport,  where  I  found  much  good  service 
for  the  Lord  to  the  satisfaction  of  Friends. 

The  Gth  we  held  a  good  and  open  meeting  for  Friends  and  others 
on  the  Island  of  Jamestown,  where  my  mind  was  much  oi^ened  in 
gospel  ministry  and  in  pra3^er,  to  good  satisfaction.  The  meeting 
closed  with  thankful  hearts. 

The  7th.  AYe  this  day  went  to  the  dwelling  house  of  our  dear 
friend  Edward  Wing,  whose  wife  is  a  minister  in  esteem  amongst 
Friends.  "We  held  a  meeting  this  evening  at  their  house  for  their 
friendly  neighbors,  where  I  was  much  favoi'ed  in  gospel  ministry 
and  in  prayer,  to  good  satisfaction.  The  jjeople  were  still  and  atten- 
tive, being  most  of  them  members  of  otlier  religious  societies  ;  and 

8 


114  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  18»4 

they,  after  meeting,  expressed  much  satisfaction  with  the  doctrine 
which  was  delivered. 

The  8th  we  attended  Friends'  meeting  at  Fall  River,  where  my 
mind  was  centered  in  true  silence  and  stillness;  and  in  this  frame  of 
mind  I  received  divine  instruction,  and  had  cause  to  admire  the 
goodness  of  the  Lord. 

I  this  afternoon,  being  much  indisposed  in  body  and  mind, 
fatigued  with  traveling,  went  to  the  house  of  my  dear  friend,  Isaac 
E.  Gifford,  of  Dartmouth,  in  Massachusetts,  to  rest  a  few  days  and 
to  improve  my  health,  where  I  continued  the  three  following  days 
and  received  the  kind  and  Christian  attention  of  this  dear  friend 
and  his  beloved  wife,  for  which  I  hope  the  Lord  will  bless  them. 

The  12th.  My  health  being  somewhat  improved,  I  this  day, 
being  Frst-day,  held  a  meeting  in  the  forenoon  at  Apponagansett, 
and  in  the  afternoon  one  at  New  Bedford.  In  these  meetings  my 
mind  wai?  opened  in  gospel  love,  to  good  satisfaction;  and  on  the 
next  day,  in  the  evening,  1  held  a  good  meeting  at  Padonaram,  in  the 
Ba]itist  meeting-house,  where  doctrine  flowed  freely  with  that 
power  which  edifies  the  church  of  Christ  and  convicts  the  soul  for 
sin.     May  all  praise  forever  be  ascribed  to  him  who  hath  all  power! 

The  lltli.  I  this  day  went  to  Fall  River,  and  on  the  ricxt  day  at- 
tended Friends*  meeting  there,  and  was  silent.  After  meeting  I 
Avent  to  the  city  of  Providence,  where  Friends  were  very  glad  to  see 
me  ;  and  on  the  Kith  I  attended  Friends'  meeting  in  that  city,  and 
was  also  silent.  The  two  following  days  I  spent  tliere  in  visiting 
some  friends,  and  also  a  little  to  rest  and  improve  my  health,  dur- 
ing which  time  I  passed  through  some  close  and  deep  baptisms,  in 
which  I  desired  to  be  more  and  more  devoted  to  the  divine  will  in 
all  things.  When  I  arrived  in  this  city,  I  had  the  satisfaction  to 
receive  the  following  encouraging  letter  from  my  dear  wife  : 

Xewhope.  Greex  Coi'XTY,  Ohio,  Ninth  mo.  '^Sth,  18o4. 
My  Deaki.y  Bi;ia)Vki)  Hisbaxd: 

Having  felt  thee  very  near  my  best  feelings  for  some  time  past, 
J  therefore  this  day  salute  thee,  and  impart  to  thee  what  revives  in 
my  mind,  in  that  })ure  love  which  is  the  fountain  of  all  true  conso- 
lation, hoping  that  tliis  my  sympathy  may  tend  to  thy  encourage- 
ment. J  can  say.  my  dear,  that  however  short  I  may  have  been  in 
living  up  to  the  teaching  of  light  and  life,  yet  it  is  my  crown  and 
chief  joy  to  feel  the  renewal  of  the  holy,  harmonious  influence  and 
inshining  of  the  light  of  Jesus  Christ,  my  dear  Saviour,  upon  my 
soul,  and  1  feel  that  without  the  inward  consolation  of  this  pre- 
cious and  divine  principle  I  cannot  l)e  truly  happy.  I  can  assnre 
thee,  my  dear,  that  1  do  greatly  desire  thy  encouragement  in  pro- 
gressing forward  "toward  the  mark  for  the  prize  of  the  high  call- 
ing of  God  in  Christ  Jesus,"  earnestly  contending  for  the  faith 
which  was  once  delivered  to  the  saints.  1  do  very  much  desire 
that  thou  mayest  be  encouraged  to  i)ress  forward  in  tlie  prosecution 


'•IM  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  115 

of  thy  very  important  engagement,  as  far  as  truth  may  open  the 
way,  that  thou  mayest  return  to  me  when  the  time  shall  come  with 
the  reward  of  peace.  My  health  is  now  pretty  good,  for  which  I 
feel  very  thankful  to  the  author  of  all  our  blessings.  Friends  are 
very  kind  to  me,  and  appear  to  have  much  sympathy  with  me  in 
thy  absence,  many  of  whom  remember  their  love  to  thee  in  tender. 
Christian  affection.  In  conclusion,  be  assured,  my  dear,  that  thou 
art  often  borought  near  to  my  feeling  in  that  immortal  seed  which 
abides  forever,  in  which  I  fervently  desire  that  we  may  more  and 
more  labor  after  true  resignation  to  the  Lord's  will.  And  may  we, 
above  all  things,  seek  to  please  him,  for  he  alone  can  give  us  true 
peace  in  every  dispensation  of  life;  and  I  trust  that  as  we  are  fully 
devoted  to  him,  and  to  his  blessed  cause,  that  we  shall  experience 
the  guardian  of  his  holy  presence  to  encamp  round  about  us,  and 
his  everlasting  arms  to  be  underneath  to  support  us  in  all  the  trials 
and  conflicts  of  this  life.  JSTow,  in  gospel  love,  I  bid  the  affection- 
ately farewell.  Rachel  Aexett. 

The  19th,  being  First-day,  and  a  day  of  much  divine  favor,  I  in 
the  forenoon  held  a  good  and  open  meeting  at  Scituate,  in  which  the 
sincere  were  much  encouraged,  and  the  unfaithful  were  tenderly  ad- 
monished. In  the  afternoon  I  held  a  public  appointed  meeting  in 
the  city  of  Providence,  which  was  well  attended,  and  which  was  also 
owned  by  the  Great  Shepherd  of  Israel.  His  blessed  power  was 
over  all.  Christian  doctrine  flowed  with  that  evidence  which  car- 
ries the  seal  of  the  living  God.  The  meeting  closed  with  prayer 
and  thanksgiving  to  him  who  liveth  forever  and  ever.  I  also  this 
evening  held  a  good  and  heart-melting  meeting  for  the  sui)erintend- 
euts,  the  teachers,  and  the  scholars  of  New  England  Yearly  Meet- 
ing Boarding  School.  This  was  truly  a  tendering  season.  The 
Lord's  power  was  present  to  our  humble  administration,  in  which 
thanksgiving  and  praises  were  returned  to  jiim  for  all  his  blessings 
and  mercies  bestowed  upon  us. 

I  have  now  visited  most  of  the  meetings  that  belong  to  the  New 
England  Yearly  Meeting,  to  good  satisfaction.  And  in  passing 
tlirough  this  Yearly  Meeting  I  found,  in  many  instances,  great 
openings  in  other  Christian  denominations  for  Friends'  meetings 
and  doctrines.  I  often  found  myself  deeply  interested  in  feeling 
with  people  of  this  description,  both  in  })ublic  and  in  jirivate,  many 
of  whom  gave  me  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  in  that  true  sympa- 
thy which  is  renewed  in  that  immortal  seed  and  principle  which 
dwells  with  all  the  true  and  sincere  l)elievers  in  every  Christian  de- 
nomination under  heaven. 

In  traveling  in  New  England,  I  often  met  with  people  of  the  first 
intelligence  and  best  information,  who  were  also  very  engaging  in 
their  manners,  and  kind  to  strangers,  and  I  often  felt  very  grateful 
for  the  attention  which  I  received  from  these  people. 

In  prosecuting  my  visit  to  Friends  of  New  England  Y'^ early  Meet- 


116  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  1834 

ing,  I  found  man}"  members  of  our  religious  society  who  well  un- 
derstood the  law  of  Christian  hospitality  to  stranijers;  and  those  of 
this  description  had  much  sympathy  with  me  and  did  all  that  they 
could  to  bear  me  upon  that  foundation  which  standeth  sure.  I 
also  found  a  goodly  number  of  solid,  well  experienced  Friends,  who 
were  well  instructed  in  the  knowledge  of  the  faith  and  the  doctrine 
of  the  Christian  religion,  and  who  appeared  to  take  a  deep  interest 
in  promoting  the  cause  of  truth  and  righteousness  in  the  earth. 
Upon  the  whole,  I  may  say  that  my  visit  to  Friends  and  others  in 
New  England  was  of  a  very  interesting  character,  and  one  wiiich 
I  trust  will  long  be  remembered  for  good.  May  all  praise  be  for- 
ever ascribed  to  him  Avho  only  hatli  immortality,  dwelling  in  the 
light  which  no  man  cana])proach  unto!     Amen. 

I  apprehend  that  it  will  be  proper  for  me  here  to  observe  that  I 
set  out  on  this  journey  on  a  hoi'seback,  and  traveled  mostly  in  this 
way  till  I  came  to  iSTew  England;  but  this  manner  of  traveling 
being  so  much  out  of  practice  in  these  parts  that  I  could  not  find 
company  to  travel  with  me  in  this  way,  therefore  I  left  my  horse 
with  a  friend  and  passed  through  New  England  Yearly  Meeting  in 
a  carriage;  and  when  I  was  about  to  leave  Providence  for  the  fur- 
ther prosecution  of  this  journey,  Friends  of  that  city,  apprehending 
that  traveling  on  a  horseback  was  so  much  out  of  practice  thi'ough 
the  course  of  the  remainder  of  my  present  engagement,  concluded 
that  it  would  be  best  for  me  to  dispose  of  my  horse.  I  therefore 
sold  him  for  what  he  w'as  worth  in  the  city  of  Providence,  appre- 
hending that  whoever  traveled  with  me  would  take  me  in  a  carriage, 
as  has  been  the  case  for  some  time  past. 

The  20th.  I  this  day,  about  1:2  o'clock,  after  taking  my  tender 
and  affectionate  leave  of  a  number  of  very  kind  jind  affectionate 
Friends  of  Providence,  went  on  board  the  steamboat  for  New  York, 
where  I  was  landed  the  next  morning  by  sun-up,  and  Friends  of 
that  city  were  very  glad  to  see  me;  and  after  resting  awhile  I  went 
out  to  AVcstburg,  on  Long  Island,  in  company  with  a  number  of 
Friends,  to  attend  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends  there,  which 
was  held  on  the  three  following  days,  including  the  meeting  of 
ministers  and  elders,  and  that  for  discipline,  and  one  for  public 
worship;  and  through  the  watchful  care  of  the  great  Head  of  the 
Church  this  was  made  a  heavenly  and  baptizing  season;  and  on  the 
25th  I  went,  in  company  with  Stephen  Jiushmore  and  his  wife,  to 
the  neigliborhood  of  Purchase,  in  order  to  attend  Friends'  Quar- 
terly Meeting  there,  and  the  next  day  being  First-day,  I  attended 
Friends'  meeting  at  Purchase,  and  was  silent;  and  on  the  2?th  I 
held  two  meetings,  one  in  the  forenoon  at  White  Plains,  in  the 
court  house,  and  the  other  in  the  afternoon  at  Kings  Street,  in  a 
Methodist  meeting-house.  In  both  these  meetings  I  found  much 
good  service  for  the  Lord,  the  people  were  still  and  attentive,  and 
appeared   to  be  willing  to  hear  the  doctrine  of  truth.     The  three 


^^^  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS   AKNETT.  117 

following  days  I  attended  the  service  of  Purchase  Quartorlv  Meet- 
ing, which  was,  through  divine  goodness,  a  Inimbling  and  cdifvincr 
time^;  gospel  ministry  flowed  freely,  to  the  tendering  of  nianv 
minds.     May  the  Lord  be  praised  forever,  more. 

The  31st.  I  this  morning,  in  company  with  Beniamin  HaviJand 
set  out  to  attend  Nine  Partners  Quarterly  Meeting;  and  traveled  this 
day  as  far  as  to  Fiiends'  settlement  in  New  Milfoi-d,  and  in  passin- 
along  this  day  through  the  country,  I  enjoyed  that  true  pWce  o1 
mind  which  springs  from  the  Source  of  all  good,  in  which  I  i)lea8- 
antly  contemplated  the  works  of  nature,  to  the  huinilitv  of  mv 
repentant  soul.  "^  ■^ 

Eleventh  month  1st.  I  this  day  held  a  o-ood  open  mcetino- at 
New  Miltord,  and  on  the  next  day,  being  First-day,  I  held  Uvo 
meetings,  one  m  the  forenoon  at  Oblong,  and  the  other  in  the  after- 
noon at  the  Branch,  so  called.  Both  these  meetings  were  times  of 
divme  favor.     Praised  be  the  Lord  forever! 

The  3rd.  This  was  a  day  of  serious  consideration  with  me,  hav- 
ing been  from  my  own  home  one  year  on  this  important  eno-aoe- 
nifut.  I  this  day  entered  into  a  solemn  retrospective  scrutiny*in 
respect  to  my  conduct  and  religious  services  since  I  set  out  on  this 
great  jouriiey,  and  had  cause  to  believe  that  I  had  endeavored  to 
live  near  the  blessed  truth,  and  had  in  a  good  degree  minded  the 
pointings  thereof;  and  as  poor  and  unworthy  as  1  often  feel,  yet  I 
this  day  could  but  acknowledge  the  goodness  and  mercy  of  tlie 
Lord  in  preserving  and  sustaining  me  on  every  hand  in  this  great 
.louniey.  I  this  day  wrote  a  letter  to  my  dear  wife,  fcelincr  my 
mind  turned  toward  her  in  gospel  love.  I  also  atten.led  ^Nine 
lartners  Quarterly  Meeting  of  ministers  and  elders,  whi.-h  was  a 
season  of  refreshment,  and  the  two  following  days  I  attended  the 
Quarterly  Meeting  for  discipline  and  worsh'ip,  and  found  much 
good  sei-vice  for  the  Lord. 

The  6th  I  attended  Stanford  Quarterly  Meeting  of  ministers  and 
elders,  held  at  the  Creek  meeting-house,  wherein  I  was  silent  under 
deep  exercise.  0,  the  deep  mourning  that  came  upcm  me  this 
day.  AH  withm  me  was  brought  down,  so  that  I,  as  it  were,  sat  alone 
and  kept  silence,  because  it  was  borne  upon  me;  [)ut  on  the  next 
day,  in  the  Quarterly  Meeting  for  worshin  and  discipline,  I  was 
largely  oipened  m  public  testimony,  my  soul  was  much  set  at  lib- 
erty, and  my  cup  run  over;  this  was  a  good  meeting,  und  one  to  be 
remembered.  Blessed  be  the  Lord!  The  8th  I  spent  in  writin<r 
and  in  i^aying  some  social  visits  to  Friends,  and  on  the  9th,  being 
l^irst-day,  I  held  a  heavenly  and  o])en  meeting  at  Stanfi.id-  truth 
reigned  over  all,  and  the  Lord's  holv  name  was  magnified.  May- 
all  praise  be  given  to  him  forever,  for  he  is  worthy! 

After  this  I  held  meetings  in  the  following  inanner:  On  the 
Kith  at  Little  Nine  Partners;  the  lltli,  at  Northeast,  so  called: 
the  mh,  at  Oswego;  and  the  13th  at  Beekman,  and  in  the  evening 


118  JOURNAL   OF  THOMAS   ARNETT.  JSSi 

on  this  day,  a  meeting  at  Poughkeepsie,  in  Friends'  meeting-house. 
All  these  meetings  were  times  of  divine  refreshment,  so  that  the 
hungry  were  fed,  and  sinners  were  called  to  repentance.  Praised 
foreVer  be  the  Lord!  On  the  14th  I  held  a  meeting  in  the  evening 
at  Marlborough,  which  was  a  good  open  season. 

The  lotli.  I  this  day,  in  company  with  a  young  friend,  traveled 
about  twenty  miles  to  Cornwall,  and  the  next  day  being  First-day, 
I  attended  Friends'  meeting  there,  and  found  some  good  service  in 
gospel  ministry,  and  in  the  evening  I  held  a  meeting  at  the  Clove, 
so  called,  in  a  school-house,  which  was,  through  divine  mercy, 
made  a  baptizing  time.  After  this,  in  company  with  a  young 
friend,  I  attended  the  following  meetings:  On  the  17th,  at  Bloom- 
ing Grove;  the  18th,  at  the  Valley,  so  called;  the  19th,  at  Platte- 
kill;  and  the  30th,  at  Paltz,  and  a  meeting  on  this  day  in  the 
evening  at  the  Plains,  so  called.  In  passing  through  these  meetings 
I  had  to  mourn  with  the  oppressed  seed,  yet  through  divine  mercy 
1  had  a  word  of  comfort  for  the  sincere  laborers  in  Zion,  and  the 
worldly-minded  were  also  tenderly  admonished  in  gospel  love.  May 
all  praise  and  glory  forever  be  ascribed  to  the  Lord! 

The  21st.  i  traveled  this  day  about  twenty  miles  to  Poughkeep- 
sie, and  in  the  evening,  by  early  candle-light,  I  held  a  good  open 
meeting  there  in  the  village  hall,  for  the  citizens  of  that  place, 
wherein  my  mind  was  largely  opened  on  the  doctrine  of  Christian 
redemption.  The  people  were  full  of  attention,  and  I  believe  that 
they  were  well  satislied  with  the  meeting,  I  this  night,  about  12 
o'clock,  went  on  board  the  steamboat  for  Hudson,  where  I  was 
landed  in  about  four  hours'  passage,  and  on  the  22nd  I  rested  in 
Hudson,  at  a  Friend's  house,  and  the  23rd,  being  First-day,  I 
attended  Friends'  meeting  in  Hudson,  and  held  a  youth's  meeting 
there  in  the  evening,  to  good  satisfaction.  The  two  following  days 
I  spent  in  writing  and  pious  meditation  at  a  Friend's  house, where  1 
received  very  kind  attention. 

The  26th.  I  this  day  attended  Hudson  Monthly  Meeting,  which, 
though  it  was  small,  yet  the  Lord  mercifully  remembered  us  and 
united  us  in  that  true  sympathy  which  is  experienced  in  the  gospel 
of  Christ. 

The  27th.  I  this  morning,  in  company  with  my  dear  friend 
Joseph  Bai-ton,  set  out  and  traveled  to  the  neighborhood  of  Chat- 
ham, and  on  the  next  day  we  held  a  small  meeting  there,  which 
was,  through  divine  mercy,  made  a  season  of  admonition  and  warn- 
ing. 

The  29th.  We  this  morning  set  out  for  a  village  by  the  name  of 
Hoosack  Four  Corners,  I  feeling  my  mind  turned  that  way.  We 
arrived  there  in  the  evening,  after  traveling  about  forty  miles,  and 
put  up  at  a  tavern.  Soon  after  arriving  there  I  found  that  the  Lord 
had  a  woik  for  me  to  do  there  ;  for  the  Ilicksites  had  made  the 
citizens  of  this  place  believe  that  they   were  the  I'eal    Society  of 


1834  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKNE'JT.  119 

Friends,  and  that  we  were  the  Separatists  ;  and  I  found  it  to  be  my 
religious  duty  to  let  them  know  that  they  had  been  misinformed, 
which  renewed  a  great  excitement  in  their  minds  to  know  more  i)er- 
fectly  about  these  things,  and  therefore  some  of  tlie  leading  char- 
acters of  this  village  held  an  interview  with  us  this  evening,  which 
continued  about  three  Incurs,  in  which  I  was  favored,  in  a  brief 
manner,  to  advert  to  the  rise,  the  history  and  the  doctrines  of  our 
Society,  and  also  to  the  conduct  and  doctrines  of  the  Hicksite  So- 
ciety, showing  the  contrast  between  them  and  us,  and  proving  ulti- 
mately to  their  satisfaction  that  we  were  the  true  Society  of  Friends, 
and  that  they  had  seijaratod  from  us  in  consequence  of  spurious 
doctrines.  When  tlie  interview  closed,  they  rejoiced  because  our 
lot  was  cast  amongst  them,  as  tliey  never  before  had  the  like  ojjpor- 
tunity  to  be  informed  in  respect  to  these  things.  They,  witli  grati- 
tude, admired  the  order  of  our  Society,  and  expressed  their  unity 
with  our  doctrines  and  testimonies,  and  they  appeared  to  be  glad 
of  our  faithfulness  in  sustaining  the  cause  of  truth  against  the  Hicks- 
ite separation.  This  was  a  very  interesting  interview,  and  ended 
to  good  satisfaction.  On  the  next  day,  which  was  First-day,  Ave 
held  a  good  and  very  interesting  meeting  for  the  citizens  of  this 
village  and  its  vicinity.  The  meeting  was  held  in  theBa))tist  meet- 
ing-house, and  it  was  large  and  eminently  owned  by  the  Good  Shep- 
herd. The  power  of  truth  was  over  all,  and  every  mind  appeared 
to  be  hushed  down  into  true  stillness  and  humility.  Christian  doc- 
trine flowed  to  the  edification  and  tenderness  of  many  minds.  The 
meeting  closed  with  prayer  and  supplication.  May  all  praise  forever 
be  ascribed  to  God  and  to  his  well-beloved  son  I  for  he  putteth  the 
mighty  down  from  their  seats  and  exaltetii  them  of  low  degree. 

12th  mo,  1st,  We  traveled  to  Friends'  settlement  in  East  Hoo- 
sack,  in  ^Fassachusetts,  Avhere  we  held  a  pretty  good  meeting  in  the 
evening  for  Friends  and  others,  and  on  the  two  following  days  we 
traveled  to  Friends'  settlement  of  Schaghticoke,  and  on  the  4Lh  we 
had  a  meeting  there  for  Friends  and  others,  which  was  a  pretty  good 
season,  and  in  the  evening  we  held  a  good  open  meeting  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Schaghticoke  Point,  in  the  Methodist  meeting  house. 

The  5th  we  traveled  about  forty  miles  to  Qneensl)ury,  and  on  the 
next  day  we  rested  at  a  Friend's  house. 

The  7th  being  First-day,  attended  Friends'  meeting  of  Queens- 
bury,  which  was  a  time  of  divine  favor,  and  in  the  evening  we  held 
a  meeting  at  Sandy-hill,  in  a  school-house,  whei'c  I  I'omul  some  ten- 
der-hearted people,  amongst  whom  I  was  opened  in  gospel  love  to 
good  satisfaction.     Blessed  forever  be  the  Lord  I 

The  8th,  I  this  morning,  in  company  with  my  dear  friend  Solo- 
mon Ilaviland,  set  out  and  traveled  to  the  village  of  Fort  Ann,  where 
we  held  a  meeting  in  the  evening  in  the  Presbyterian  meeting  house, 
which  was  a  low  and  exercising  time,  I  had  some  service,  but  not 
much  to  the  relief  of  my  mind. 


120  JOUKNAL   OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  1834 

The  0th  we  traveled  to  Friends'  settlement  in  Granville,  and  in 
the  evening  held  a  ])rctty  good  meeting  at  a  village  by  the  name  of 
Middle  Granville,  in  the  Presbyterian  meeting  house.  The  people 
were  still  and  quiet,  and  appeared  to  be  satisfied  ;  and  the  next  day 
we  rested  at  a  Friends'  house.  My  mind  was  much  favored  with 
the  illumination  of  the  light  which  lighteth  every  man  that  cometh 
into  the  world,  in  which  I  was  enabled  secretly  to  glorify  the  Lord. 

The  11th  we  attended  Danby  Monthly  Meeting,  held  at  Granville, 
where  I  found  some  good  service  for  the  Lord.  In  the  evening  we 
held  a  meeting  at  East  Granville,  in  the  Methodist  meeting  house, 
which  was  a  proving  time.  I,  however,  had  some  service  to  pretty 
good  satisfaction. 

Tiie  12th  we  traveled  about  fifty  miles  to  Friends'  settlement  of 
A¥ey bridge,  in  Vermont,  where,  on  the  next  day,  in  tlie  evening, 
we  held  a  precious  and  good  meeting.  The  Lord's  name  was  mag- 
nified, to  the  glory  thereof. 

Tiie  14th  being  Fii'st-day.  and  a  very  cold,  stormy  time,  we  this 
morning  traveled  about  fifteen  miles,  facing  the  .storm,  to  Ferris- 
burgh,  and  attended  Friends'  meeting  therej  which  was  very  small, 
wherein  I  had  to  sit  with  suifering  silence.  In  the  evening  we  went 
to  the  house  of  our  dear  friend  Joseph  Hoag,  a  valuable  minister  of 
our  (Society,  and  one  that  has  traveled  much  in  truth's  service  to 
good  satisfaction,  where  avc  were  entertained  with  Christian  kind- 
ness ;  and  on  the  next  day  we  traveled  about  fifteen  miles  to  the 
village  of  Kichmond,  where  we  held  a  meeting  in  the  evening  in  a 
school-house,  and  the  Loitl's  mercy  was  near  to  tiie  reaching  of 
many  hearts. 

The  Kith  we  traveled  about  thirty  miles  to  Friends'  settlement  in 
Montpelier,  where  we  had  a  meeting  in  the  evening  for  Friends  and 
others,  to  good  satisfaction;  the  states  of  the  people  were  spoken  to 
in  the  })ower  of  trutli. 

The  ITth.  We  this  evening  held  a  trying  and  proving  meeting, 
in  tlu'  village  of  Montpeiiei',  in  the  court-house.  There  was  not 
much  openness  with  the  i)eo2)le  for  the  doctrine  of  truth.  I  had 
some  service,  but  not  much  to  the  satisfatttioii  of  my  mind.  The 
next  day  we  traveled  upwards  of  thirty  miles  to  the  house  of  our 
kind  friend  Benjamin  T.ibor,  a  miiiisier  in  unity  amongst  Friends, 
and  one  that  has  ti'avckd  consideralile  in  truth's  service,  to  good 
satisfaction,  at  whose  house  we  lested  on  the  19th,  and  received 
with  satisfaction  and  pence  of  mind  Christian  attention. 

The  20th.  We  held  a  pretty  good  meeting  at  South  Lincoln,  and 
on  the  next  day,  being  First  day,  we  atti'uded  the  meeting  of 
Friends  at  Lincoln,  where  I  found  soaie  good  service  for  tne  Lord, 
to  pretty  good  satisfaction. 

The  three  following  days  we  held  meetings  at  the  Creek  (so 
called),  .Starksboiough,  and  Monktini.  These  meetings  were  times 
of  divine  and  eminent  favors;  my  mind  was  much  set  at  liberty  and 


18*5  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  121 

the  Lord's  lioly  name  exalted  ubove  all.  May  all  glory  be  given  to 
him,  for  he  is  worthy,  both  now  and  forevermore! 

On  the  2oth  and  :i(jth  we  traveled  about  seventy  miles  to  Friends 
settlement  in  Danby,  and  on  the  :i7th  we  rested  at  a  Friend's  house, 
being  wearied  with  traveling. 

The  28th,  being  First-day,  we  held  a  meeting  at  Danby,  where  I 
was  favored  to  deliver  a  tt'stiniony  on  the  subject  of  the  nature  and 
duty  of  true  worship  to  God  ;  the  peojjle  were  still  and  apjieared  to 
be  well  satisfied.  We  this  afternoon  rode  to  Friends'  settlement. 
in  Gianville,  and  on  the  m-xt  day  in  the  evening  we  lield  a  highly 
favored  meeting  at  the  village  of  West  Granville.  My  mind  was  set 
at  libt'rty  to  tlu' glory  of  the  name  of  God.  The  people  were  very 
still  and  attentive  and  ap[)eared  to  be  well  satisfied.  Praised  forever 
be  the  Lord! 

Th(^  3()th  Ave  rode  to  the  house  of  my  dear  friend  Solomon  Ilavi- 
land,  wlio  has  been  mv  agreeable  and  sympathizing  companion  for 
a  few  weeks  past.  On  the  31st  I  attended  Qiieensbury  Monthly 
Meeting,  whirh  to  me  was  a  time  of  close  trial.  I  had  some  service, 
but  not  to  the  relief  of  my  mind.  I  was  this  day  much  cast  down 
in  my  mind.  I  felt  solitary,  and  the  spirit  of  mourning  was  re- 
newed in  me.  I  besought  the  Lord  to  have  mercy  on  me,  and  more 
and  more  to  sanctify  my  sorrows  and  conflicts  to  the  glory  of  his 
immortal  name. 

First  month,  1st,  1835.  I  spent  this  day  at  a  Friend's  house,  in 
writing,  and  also  in  religious  and  solid  retirement  of  mind,  and  was 
favored  in  a  good  degree  to  retrospect  the  time  of  my  latter  life,  to 
pretty  good  satisfaction,  and  had  great  cause  to  acknowledge  the 
goodness  and  mercy  of  the  Lord  to  my  poor  dependent  soul. 

The  2d  I  held  a  meeting  in  the  town  of  Luzerne,  in  a  school 
house,  for  Friends  and  others,  which  was  well  attended,  and  divine 
ability  was  granted  to  the  glory  of  God.  I  rested  at  a  Friend's 
house  on  the  3d,  being  a  very  cold  day  and  I  being  a  little  unwell, 
and  on  the  4th,  being  First-day,  I  held  a  large  and  good  meeting 
at  Queensbury.  Doctrine  went  forth  to  the  comfort  andiiumility  of 
many  minds.    May  all  glory  and  praise  be  given  to  God  forever! 

The  5th,  in  company  with  myfriend  James  Mott,  I  traveled  about 
thirty  miles  to  Friends'  settlement  of  Half-moon,  where,  on  the  next 
day,  we  attended  their  Monthly  Meeting,  and  also  in  the  evening 
held  a  puldic  meeting  for  worship,  and  I  had  cause  to  be  thank- 
ful to  the  Lord  for  the  favors  of  this  day,  for  he  was  with  me  to 
the  glory  of  his  name. 

The  7tli  we  traveled  about  twenty-five  miles  to  Greenfield,  and  on 
the  next  day  attended  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends  held  there, 
which  was  small,  but  was  favored  with  the  encouraging  language  of 
truth.  In  the  afternoon  we  traveled  about  fifteen  miles  to  Provi- 
dence, and  on  the  9th  we  attended  PViends'  Monthly  Meeting  there, 
which  was  small,  and  a  low  and  trying  season.     Friends  were  en- 


122  JUliKXAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  i»*> 

eouraged  to  more  diligence  and  faithfulness  in  enduring  the  cross 
of  Christ,  In  the  evening  we  held  a  public  meeting  for  worship 
there,  Avhich  'svas  well  attended,  and  in  which  truth  reigned  in  do- 
minion over  a  forgetful  and  lukewarm  congregation.  May  the  Lord 
be  praised  forevermore,  for  all  power  is  his,  and  out  of  weakness  he 
makes  strong  and  gives  ability  to  the  upright  to  glorify  his  name! 

The  10th,  in  company  with  my  friend  Wing  Chase,  I  traveled 
about  thirty  miles  to  Friends'  neighborhood  in  Charlestown,  and 
the  next  day  being  First-day,  I  held  a  large  meeting  there,  where  I 
was  concerned  to  j)oint  out  the  true  way  to  happiness  and  everlast- 
ing peace  to  a  mixed  congregation.  Truth,  in  a  good  degree,  gained 
the  victory,  and  the  Lord's  name  was  exalted. 

I  this  evening  was  much  stripjjed  and  cast  down  in  the  spii'it  of 
my  mind.  I  felt  the  renewed  necessity  of  living  near  the  blessed 
truth  in  all  my  religious  acts  and  services.  The  language  of  my  heart 
was,  "Thou  knowest,  0  Lord,  that  I  love  thee,  and  desire  above  all 
things  to  be  fully  devoted  to  thee  ;  I  am  poor  and  needy,  and  stand 
always  in  need  of  thy  mercy  and  protection;  I  pray  thee,  therefore, 
more  and  more  to  establish  me  with  thee,  and  preserve  me  in  the 
hour  of  temptation.  Lead  me,  I  beseech  thee,  in  the  way  of  true 
holiness  and  sanctification  of  mind,  that  I  may  serve  thee  in  up- 
rightness of  heart,  having  no  will  of  my  own.  May  all  praise  be  as- 
cribed to  thee  forever!     Amen!" 

The  12th,  in  compuny  Avith  Nathaniel  Bowdish,  I  traveled  about 
twenty-tive  miles  to  Middleburgh,  where,  on  the  next  day,  I  held  a 
meeting,  in  which,  after  sittin;;  sometime  in  much  Aveakness,  truth 
arose  into  dominion  and  the  states  of  the  peojile  Avere  livingly  spo- 
ken to.  I  this  evening,  in  company  with  some  dear  friends,  went 
about  ten  miles  to  the  dwelling  house  of  Peter  Stoven,  Avhere,  on  the 
next  day,  I  held  a  small  but  pretty  good  meeting,  in  whose  company, 
after  meeting,  I  traveled  about  twenty  miles  to  the  settlement  of 
Friends  of  Coeymans,  through  a  violent  rainstorm.  Thetniveling 
some  ])laces  was  dangerous,  in  consequence  of  the  snow  having  so 
melted  as  not  to  be  sufficient  to  bear  a  horse  and  carriage;  but  Ave 
were  preserved,  to  our  admiration  and  thankfulness.  For  several 
weeks  past  it  has  been  the  coldest  time  where  I  have  been  traA-el- 
ing  that  I  ever  saAv,  during  Avhich  time  much  snow  fell;  but  the 
weather  being  noAv  so  mild  as  to  occasionally  melt  and  freeze  the 
snoAV,  makes  the  traveling  difficult;  but  Friends  are  very  kind  tome 
and  conduct  me  about  from  place  to  place  Avith  as  much  safety  as 
they  can,  for  which  I  hope  the  Lord  will  bless  them.  On  the  i5th 
I  attended  Coeyman's  Preparative  Meeting  of  Friends,  Avherein  it 
was  my  lot  to  sit  in  suffering  silence.  0,  the  poverty  of  mind 
which  I  witnessed  this  day,  I  cried  to  the  Lord  for  mercy,  for  with- 
out him  I  can  do  nothing. 

The  IGth.  A  day  of  much  religious  exercise  and  l)aptism.  I 
held  a  large  and  highly  favored  meeting  at  Coevmans,  on  a  funeral 


M85  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  12'3 

oceasion,  wherein  the  doctrine  of  the  Christian  religion  went  forth 
in  demonstration  and  with  power.  The  sincere  were  much  en- 
couraged to  hold  on  their  way  to  true  happiness,  and  sinners  were 
called  to  repentance  ;  the  name  of  the  Shepherd  of  Israel  was  glori- 
fied and  exalted  over  all.  The  meeting  closed  with  prayer,  suppli- 
cation and  thanksgiving.  In  the  evening  I  held  a  meeting  in  Reus- 
selaerville  City,  in  the  Methodist  meeting-house,  which  was  rather 
a  low  time.  A  short  doctrinal  testimony,  however,  was  delivered  to 
pretty  good  satisfaction. 

The  17th.  In  company  with  David  Boughton  1  traveled  about 
tifteen  miles  to  Oakhill,  where,  on  the  next  day,  being  First-day,  I 
held  a  large  and  interesting  meeting.  The  Lord's  power  was  near, 
and  baptized  many  minds  into  a  humbling  sense  of  the  religious 
obligation  due  to  hmi  for  his  mercy  and  loving  kindness.  The 
meeting  ended  with  prayer  and  thanksgiving.  My  mind  this  even- 
ing was  raised  in  secret  praises  to  him  Avho  liveth  forever  and  ever, 
being  impressed  with  a  sense  of  his  glory,  majesty  and  power. 

The  19th  I  spent  at  a  Friend's  house,  in  writing,  and  religious 
meditation,  and  was  favored  to  feel  the  divine  presence  to  be  near 
me  ;  and  0,  that  I  may  ever  walk  worthy  of  that  mercy  which  has 
hitherto  preserved  and  sustained  me! 

The  20th.  In  company  with  my  dear  friend  Henry  Bull,  I  trav- 
eled some  upwards  of  forty  miles  to  the  dwelling  house  of  David 
Gurney,  in  the  town  of  Maryland,  where,  on  the  next  day,  we  held 
a  small  and  trying  meeting.  x\fter  sitting  some  time  in  silence,  I 
delivered  a  few  words,  recommending  Friends  to  more  inward  watch- 
fulness to  prayer,  so  that  the  meeting  ended  with  much  weakness. 
In  the  afternoon  we  rode  to  Mi.ldh  field,  and  on  the  22d  we  at- 
tended the  Preparative  Meeting  of  Friends  there,  which  Avas  small 
and  a  low,  proving  time,  I  found  some  close  and  hard  work,  :ind 
had  to  mourn  over  a  lukewarm  spirit  in  some  of  our  members  in 
this  meeting. 

The  23rd.  We  held  a  large  and  pretty  good  meeting  at  Laurens. 
My  mind  was  opened  in  gospel  nnniittry  to  the  ccmifort  of  the  sin- 
cere, and  Ihe  forgetful  wei'c  warned  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come. 

The  24th.  We  held  a  large  and  open  meeting  at  Otsego.  I  was 
much  favored  through  divine  al)ility  in  pointing  out  the  way  of 
eternal  life.  The  pe()i)le  were  still  and  quiet,  and  appeared  willing 
to  be  instructed  in  the  things  of  life  and  salvation.  The  meeting- 
ended  well. 

The  25th.  We  held  a  very  large  and  heavenly  meeting  at  Butter- 
nuts. Being  First-day,  the  ])eople  generally  in  this  neighborhood, 
of  all  classes,  attended  this  meeting,  and  the  Lord  had  mercy  <>n  us, 
and  largely  and  impressively  opened  my  mouth  in  gospel  love.  The 
doctrine  of  Christian  redemption  was  ti'eated  on  in  a  convinc- 
ing manner.  There  were  many  sinceie  and  seeking  heaits  jnesent 
that  secretly  rejoiced  in  God.  Sinners  were  (railed  to  repentance  in 
gospel  love.     The  meeting  closed  with  thanksgiving. 


124  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS   ARKETT.  1835 

The  20th,  in  company  witli  my  dear  friend  Caleb  Bralcy,  a  min- 
ister in  good  esteem  amongst  Friemls,  I  held  a  meeting  at  Burl- 
ington, where,  after  sitting  sometime  in  silence,  in  much  weakness, 
truth  in  a  good  degree  arose  in  dominion,  and  enabkd  me  to  de- 
liver a  testimony  to  the  humbling  and  tendering  of  many  minds, 
so  that  we  had  cause  to  admire  tlie  Lord's  goodness. 

The  27th  we  held  a  good  and  precious  meeting  at  Smyrna,  wliere 
I  found  some  hungry  and  thirsty  souls  on  whom  the  Lord  had 
mercy  by  refreshing  them  with  the  water  of  life  and  salvation;  and 
on  the  next  day,  in  company  with  some  dear  fiiinds,  I  attended 
Deriter  Monthly  Meeting  and  found  some  good  service  for  the 
Lord. 

The  29th.  I  this  morning,  in  company  with  several  Friends,  helda 
good  and  open  meeting  in  the  village  of  Symrua,  in  the  Pi'csbyter- 
ian  meeting  house.  This  was  a  very  impressive  opportnnity;  truth 
was  over  all,  and  the  minds  of  the  people  were  hushed  down  into  a 
true  stillness.  The  Lord's  holy  name  was  magnified  and  exalted  above 
all.  Glory  forever  be  oiven  to  him.  In  the  afternoon  I  attended  Bridge- 
water  Preparative  Meeting  of  ministers  and  elders,  held  at  Madi- 
son, where  also  on  the  next  day  I  attended  Bridgewater  Monthly 
Meeting  and  found  uinch  good  service  for  the  Lord  in  gospel  min- 
istry. This  was  a  good  and  blessed  meeting,  and  ended  to  good  satis- 
faction. 

The  31st,  at  Brookfield,  I  thought  the  Lord's  holy  name  was 
praised  in  this  meeting  in  the  seci'etof  many  hearts.  Gospel  minis- 
try flowed  frei'ly  and  the  meeting  closed  with  prayer  and  thanks- 
giving to  the  Lord  fur  all  his  mercies  and  blessings  bestowed 
njjon  us. 

Second  month,  1st,  being  First-day,  I  this  morning  set  ont  in 
company  with  my  dear  friend  Ilezekiah  Collins,  of  Brookfield, 
who  has  found  a  concern  to  travel  with  me  awhile  on  this  great 
journi-y.  For  sometime  past  I  have  had  no  regular  companion,  but 
Friends  have  been  very  kind  in  conducting  me  about  from  place  to 
place,  so  that  I  have  iiad  no  difficulty  m  finding  suitable  company 
and  conveyance,  although  I  have  not  had  the  company  of  the  same 
friend  long  at  a  time.  We  this  morning  rode  about  fifteen  miles 
to  Driilgewater,  where  we  attended  Friends'  Meeting  and  found  but 
a  few  Friends,  amongst  whom  it  was  my  lot  to  deliver  a  short  testi- 
mony in  much  weakness.  This  was  a  day  of  much  close  and  prov- 
ing exercise  and  baptism  with  me. 

The  2(1  we  held  a  small  but  pretty  open  meeting  at  New  Hart- 
ford, and  in  the  afternoon  we  rode  to  the  city  of  Utica.  where  we 
were  very  kindly  rei-eived  and  entertained  by  our  dear  iriend  Zeno 
Carpenter,  who  is  a  mini.>ter  in  good  esteem  amongst  Friends.  He 
and  his  dear  family  had  much  Christian  sympathy  with  us. 

The  3rd.  We  spent  this  day  in  this  city.  I  wrote  a  letter  to  my 
dear  wife,  in  which  she  was  brought  near  to  me  in  that   life  which 


1835  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AUNETT.  135 

death  itself  can  never  extinsfiiish,  having  been  absent  from  her  now 
for  fifteen  months  ])ast.  In  the  cveniiiu:  we  held  a  meeting  in  this 
city  in  the  Methodist  meeting-house,  which  was  well  attended,  and 
the  Lord  was  ])resent  to  enable  me  to  declare  the  doctrine  of  truth 
with  power  and  demonstration  of  the  spirit.  The  people  were  still 
and  attentive,  and  the  meeting  ended  with  prayer  and  supplication 
to  the  Lord. 

The  4th.  We  this  morning  left  this  city  and  rode  to  West- 
moreland, where  we  attended  Friends'  meeting  for  worship,  in 
which  I  h;id  to  mourn  over  a  lukewarm  spirit.  Toward  the  close 
of  the  meeting  I  became  concerned  to  admonish  Friends  to  more 
lively  diligence  in  the  things  which  pertain  to  life  and  salvation. 
In  the  afternoon  we  rode  to  the  house  of  our  dear  friend,  Henry 
Dopp,  wliere  we  w'ere  kindly  rect'ived  and  entertained  by  him  and 
his  family,  and  on  the  next  day,  in  the  evening,  we  held  a  pretty 
good  and  o]ien  meeting  in  this  neighborhood  in  a  Methodist  meet- 
ing-hou:-e.  The  ])eoi)le  jqipearcd  to  be  willing  to  be  instructed  in 
the  way  of  a  holy  life.  The  Lord  had  mercy  and  his  truth  went 
forth  to  the  glory  and  honor  of  his  immortal  name. 

The  6th.'  We  rode  this  day  to  a  Friend's  liouse  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Western,  where  we  had  the  satisfac'ion  to  meet  with  our 
dear  Fiiends,  Dongan  Clark  and  his  wife  Asenath,  of  North  Caro- 
lina, both  of  whom  are  mmisters  in  good  esteem  amongst  Friends, 
and  she  is  a  daughter  of  our  valuable  Friend  and  minister,  Nathan 
Hunt,  who  is  well  known  amongst  Friends.  These  dear  Friends 
have  been  out  from  home,  engaged  in  the  |irosecution  of  a  religious 
visit  to  Friends  and  others  in  these  parts  more  than  one  year;  and 
they  have  given  good  satisfaction  wnere  they  have  traveled.  We 
have  several  times  before  met  on  the  present  journey,  and  have 
always  experienced  the  reciprocation  of  the  unity  of  the  S])irit  and 
of  life.  On  the  7th,  in  the  morning,  we  attended  a  meeting  ap- 
pointed by  these  dear  Friends  at  Western,  where  they  had  much 
good  service  for  the  Lord.  After  the  meeting,  we  jjarted  in  that 
pure  love  which  death  itself  can  never  extinguish,  commending 
each  other  to  God  and  to  the  word  of  his  grace,  desiring  the  divine 
blessing  on  our  labors  in  these  parts.  In  the  afternoon  we  held  a 
large  meeting  at  a  school  house  a  few  miles  distant  from  Western, 
where  I  had  to  deliver  truth's  testimony  to  a  people  that  knew  but 
little  about  the  power  of  the  cross  of  Christ.  They  were,  however, 
attentive,  and  I  hope  some  of  them  were  benefited.  The  meeting 
ended  pretty  well. 

The  8th,  being  First-day,  we  held  a  pretty  good  oi)en  meeting  at 
Western.  The  Lord's  power  was  present  to  the  humbling  and  ten- 
dering of  many  minds  ;  and  the  'Jtli  we  si)ent  at  a  Friend's  house, 
in  reading,  writing  and  religious  meditation. 

The  three  following  days,  we  attended  the  service  of  Leroy  Quar- 
terly Meeting  held  at  Lee,  which  was  a  time  of  eminent  divine 


IM  .TOUKNAL    OF    THOMAS    ARXETT.  i*« 

favor.  Tlie  Lord's  baptizing  power  was  present  to  the  reaching 
and  humbling  of  many  minds.  Many  friendly  people  attended  the 
public  service  of  this  meeting,  who  were  not  members  of  our  Soci- 
ety, and  they  appeared  to  be  well  satisfied  with  the  meeting.  My 
mind  was  largely  opened  in  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  in  this 
meeting,  which  caused  such  an  impression  with  many  that  they 
were  broken  down  into  tears  and  deep  humility.  The  meeting  sol- 
emnly closed  with  thanksgiving  and  prayer  to  God  for  his  mercies. 

The  13tli,  we  traveled  about  thirty  miles  to  Lowville,  where  we 
this  evening  held  a  meeting  for  Friends  and  others,  and  I  thought 
the  blessed  truth  was  over  all.  This  was  truly  a  heavenly  and  bap- 
tizing season.  The  Lord's  name  was  praised  and  excelled  above  all. 
Glory  forever  be  given  to  his  holy  name  I 

The  14tli,  we  traveled  about  twenty-five  miles  to  Leroy,  and  on 
the  next  aay,  being  First-day,  we  held  two  large  and  favored  meet- 
ings, one  in  the  forenoon  at  Leroy,  and  the  other  in  the  evening  at 
Indian  Kiver.  Both  of  these  meetings  were  times  of  refreshment 
to  the  sinner  and  of  warning  to  the  slothful.  My  mind  was  emi- 
nently opened  this  day  in  the  doctrines  of  the  Oliristian  religion, 
and  the  Lord's  great  name  was  exalted  over  all.  May  all  praise  be 
forever  ascribed  to  him  who  is  worthy  always  to  receive  glory,  honor 
and  immortality  I 

The  Kith,  a  day  of  much  inward  and  religious  meditation  with 
me,  I  rejoiced  in  God,  my  salvation,  for  all  his  mercies  and  bless- 
ings to  my  soul.  0,  that  I  may  be  faithful  to  him  all  the  days  of 
my  life  I  for  great  has  been  his  goodness  to  me.  We  this  evening 
held  a  precious  and  good  meeting  at  a  village  by  the  name  of 
Evans'  Mills,  in  the  Presbyterian  meeting-house.  The  Lord  was 
with  me  and  granted  me  ability  and  utterance  to  the  glory  of  his 
blessed  name.  The  people  were  still  and  attentive  and  the  meeting 
ended  to  very  good  satisfaction. 

Tlie  l?th.  We  this  morning  set  out  for  Upper  Canada,  and 
traveled  about  thirty  miles  to  the  St,  Lawrence  river,  and  stayed  all 
night  at  Oak  Point,  and  found  that  the  river,  Avhich  was  three  miles 
wide,  was  frozen  over,  and  the  snow  on  the  ice  was  about  a  foot 
deep,  and  the  ice  not  being  very  solid  rendered  the  crossing 
somewhat  dangerous.  I  therefore  settled  down  in  the  spirit  of  my 
mind  to  know  the  divine  will,  and  the  pure  light  sprang  u])  in  me 
and  pointed  out  my  way  across  that  great  river  at  that  time,  and  the 
prosj)ect  of  crossing  such  a  river  on  an  icy  bridge  brought  me  under 
very  deep  exercise  of  miiul ;  but  on  the  next  morning,  seeing  the 
way  to  be  very  clear  to  go  forward,  we  committed  the  keeping  of  our 
souls,  in  the  confidence  and  the  faith  of  the  everlasting  gospel,  to  a 
faithful  Creator,  and  ])assed  over  tiuit  great  river  on  the  ice.  We 
passed  over  with  a  cari-iage  and  two  horses,  and  were  about  one 
hour  in  going  over,  and  had  to  pass  over  facing  a  violent  snow- 
.storm  ;  and  when  we  landed  on  the  Canadian  shore  our  hearts  were 


(«iD  JOl'RNAL    OF    THOMAS    AKNETT.  13? 

replete  with  gratitude  to  him  wlio  controls  the  planets  and  the  ele- 
ments, believing  that  we  this  morning  witnessed  his  mercy  and  all- 
controlling  power  to  preserve  us  in  passing  over  that  great  river. 
May  all  praise  be  given  him  now  and  forever  !  After  we  landed  in 
the  Province  of  Upper  Canada,  we  traveled  on  this  day  about  fif- 
teen miles,  to  Friends'  settlement  of  Leeds,  where,  on  the  next  day, 
the  10th,  we  attended  their  meeting  for  worship,  as  it  came  in  course, 
wherein  I  sat  with  suffering  silence,  and  had  to  deplore  the  i^revalence 
of  a  lukewarm  spirit  in  this  meeting,  which  had  brought  some  from 
under  tlie  baptism  of  the  Holy  Gliost  to  depend  on  the  merits  of 
their  own  works  and  on  the  outside  appearance  for  salvation,  and 
after  the  conclusion  of  the  meeting,  I  labored  faithfully  with  those 
of  this  description  in  a  private  manner,  showing  the  necessity  of 
keeping  under  a  proj^er  daily  exercise  of  mind,  and  of  depending 
on  divine  mercy  for  salvation.  For  according  to  his  mercy  he 
saves  us,  by  the  washing  of  regeneration  and  renewing  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.  In  the  evening  we  held  a  public  meeting  there,  which  was 
well  attended,  in  which  I  delivered  the  Lord's  testimony  with  much 
weakness,  the  minds  of  the  people  being  scattered,  which  made 
hard  work  for  me.  The  meeting,  however,  ended  pretty  well,  and 
on  the  next  day,  the  20th,  we  traveled  about  fifty  miles,  to  the 
neighborhood  of  Kingston,  where  on  the  next  day,  the  21st,  we 
rested  at  a  Friend's  house. 

The  22d,  being  First-day,  we  lield  a  meeting  in  the  forenoon  at 
Waterloo,  in  a  school-house,  for  Friends  and  others,  and  one  in  the 
afternoon,  in  the  village  of  Kingston,  in  tlie  court-house.  My  mind 
in  both  these  meetings  was  drawn  forth  in  gospel  love.  The  people 
were  still  and  attentive,  and  appeared  to  be  well  satisfied,  and  will- 
ing to  receive  instruction  in  the  Avay  of  true  life.  On  the  next  day 
we  traveled  about  thirty  miles  to  Adolphus  town,  where  we  were 
very  kindly  received  and  entertained  by  our  dear  and  worthy  Friend 
Willet  Casey  and  his  family.  We  had  cause  to  believe  that  the 
sympathy  and  hospitality  which  we  received  from  this  worthy  fam- 
ily sprang  up  in  the  pure  love  of  the  gospel,  for  they  entertained  us 
in  a  manner  as  becomes  Christians.  On  the  24th  we  held  a  good 
and  highly  favored  meeting  in  this  vicinity  for  Friends  and  others, 
in  which  thanksgiving  and  jiraising  were  ascribed  to  the  King  im- 
mortal for  all  liis  mercies  and  blessings  to  us,  wliich  have  been 
many. 

The  25th.  We  passed  over  the  Bay  Quante  on  the  ice,  facing  a 
most  violent  wind-storm,  and  went  on  to  the  village  of  Hollowell, 
where,  in  the  evening,  we  held  a  precious  and  heavenly  meeting  in 
the  Methodist  meeting-house.  My  mind  Avas  much  engaged  in  the 
overflowing  of  gospel  love ;  the  people  were  quiet  and  sober,  and 
appeared  to  be  tender  and  broken.  0,  that  I  may  ever  be  faithful 
to  the  Lord,  and  praise  him  for  his  goodness  and  loving-kindness  to 
me,  without  whom  I  can  do  nothing  that  will  advance  liis  great  and 


128  JOUUNAL    OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  18S5 

blessed  cause  in  the  earth  !  All  praise  is  forever  his  due,  both  in 
heaven  and  also  in  the  earth. 

The  20th.  We  atteniled  the  nieetino-  of  Friends  at  AV^estlake, 
where  my  mouth  was  opened  with  a  refresliing  testnnuny.  'J'lie 
Lord  was"  with  ns,  and  througli  mercy,  granted  us  a  precious  and 
good  meeting. 

Tlie  27th.  We  had  a  meeting  at  Ameliashurgli,  where  the  testi- 
mony of  truth  livingly  flowed  to  tlie  encouragement  of  tlie  humble 
and  warning  of  the  slotliful. 

Tlie  28t]i.  A  day  of  much  pleasing  and  encour;igingantici])ati()n 
in  the  hope  of  the  gospel,  tlie  divine  presence  l^eing  with  me,  and 
opening  my  mind  in  some  degree  to  have  a  siglit  of  the  glory  and 
immortal  happiness  of  the  righteous.  0,  how  1  desired  to  die  the 
death  of  the  righteous,  and  tliat*  my  last  end  may  be  like  unto  his. 
We,  on  this  d:iy,  traveled  about  fifty  miles  to  Fiiend's  settlement  of 
Haldimand,  where  we  found  a  few  Friends  who  were  concerned  for 
the  cause  of  truth. 

Third  month  1st.  Being  First-day,  we  held  a  small  but  |)retty 
good  meeting  at  Haldimand,  for  Fi'iends  and  others,  and  on  the  next 
day  we  traveled  about  fifty  mik'S  to  Pickering;  and  on  the  3rd  we 
held  a  i)retty  good  meetiiig  there.  Through  divine  mercy,  the  way 
of  etei'ual  life  was  pointed  out  to  the  comfort  and  edification  of 
Friends. 

The  4th.  We  traveled  aliout  foity  miles  to  Yongestreet,  wliere, 
on  the  next  day,  we  attended  the  Preparative  Meeting  of  Friends, 
in  which  I  found  it  to  be  my  duty  to  sit  in  silence,  and  secretly  to 
admire  the  mercy,  the  goodness,  the  loving-kindness  and  the  pre- 
servation of  the  Lord  to  me  through  my  M'hole  life.  Praised  forever 
be  his  name  ! 

The  0th.  We  held  a  full  and  crowded  meeting  at  Whitchurch, 
where,  out  of  weakness,  I  was  mercifully  strengthened  to  bear  the 
Lord's  testimony  to  the  glory  of  his  name.  May  I  praise  him  both 
in  time  and  eternity.  On  the  next  day  Ave  held  an  exercising  meet- 
ing at  Tecomsett.  I  found  hard  work  in  this  meeting,  but  ability 
was  given  me  to  clear  my  hiind  to  the  peace  thereof. 

The  8th,  being  First-day,  and  a  time  of  much  divine  favoi-,  we 
held  two  large  and  highly  favored  meetings,  one  in  the  forenoon  at 
Friends'  meeting-house  of  Yongestreet,  and  the  other  in  the  even- 
ing at  a  Methodist  meeting-house,  a  few  miles  distant  from  the 
former.  My  mind  in  both  these  meetings  was  extensively  opened 
in  Ciiristian  doctrine.  The  people  were  very  still,  and  many  oC 
them  were  broken  into  much  tenderness  and  humility.  The  Lord's 
great  name  was  exidted  over  all.     Glory  to  him  for  ever  more  ! 

The  two  following  days  we  traveled  upwards  of  a  hundred  miles 
to  Norwich,  wheie,  on  the  11th,  we  attended  the  Monthly  Meeting 
of  Friends,  which  was  a  season  of  much  exercise.  I  found  some 
close  and  hard  labor,  and  through  divine  inerey,  ability  was  given 


1835  .TOURKAL    OF    THOMAS    AHNETT.  129 

nie  to  clear  my  mind  to  the  satisfaction  thereof.     Praised  forever  be 
the  Lord's  lioly  name  I 

The  two  following  days  we  traveled  about  one  hundred  miles  to 
Friend's  settlement  of  Pel  ham,  where,  on  the  14th  we  rested  at  a 
Friend's  house,  being  wearied  with  traveling;  and  on  the  loth,  hv- 
mg  First-day.  we  held  a  i)i-etty  good  meeting  there  for  Friends  and 
others.     My  mind  was  opened  in  gospel  love  to  good  satisfaction. 

The  16th.  Feeling  my  mind  clear  of  the  Province  of  Upi)er 
Canada,  we  this  morning  set  out  for  the  Western  parts  of  the  State 
of  Xew  York,  and  crossed  the  Niagara  river  below  the  great  falls, 
and  went  on  to  Lockport,  wnere,  on  the  next  day,  we  held  a  pre- 
cious and  heavenly  meeting.  The  power  of  truth  was  over  all,  and 
many  minds  were  melted  down  into  tenderness  and  tears. 

The  18th.  Attended  Hartland  Preparative  Meeting  of  Ministers 
and  Elders,  and  on  the  next  day  attended  the  Monthly  Meeting  of 
Friends  there,  which  was,  through  the  melting  power  of  trutli, 
made  a  heart-refreshing  season.  Glory  forever  he  ascribed  to  the 
Lord,  for  he  is  worthy  !  On  the  20th  we  held  a  trying  and  proving 
meeting  at  Shelby.  I  found  some  close  and  searching  service,  and 
discliarged  my  duty  faithfully.  Thanks  forever  be  given  to  the 
Lord  for  his  mercy  I 

The  21st.  We  traveled  about  forty  miles  to  the  city  of  Eochester. 
and  on  the  iiext  day,  being  First-day,  we  were  at  the  meeting  of 
Friends  there,  where  I  found  much  good  service  for  the  Lord. 
Blessed  be  his  name  I 

The  23rd.  We  traveled  to  Friend^s  settlement  of  Macedon. 
Avhere,  on  the  next  day,  we  held  a  good,  open  meeting.  The  divine 
presence  prevailed  to  the  humbling  of  many  minds.  The  meeting- 
ended  to  good  satisfaction. 

The  25th.  Attended  Farmington  Preparative  Meeting  of  Minis- 
ters and  Elders,  which,  to  me,  was  a  time  of  mnch  exercise  and  in- 
ward engagement.  On  the  next  day  we  attended  the  Monthly 
Meeting  of  Friends  there,  whicli  was,  through  the  refreshings  of 
gos])el  love,  made  a  heavenly  and  precious  season.  Blessed  be  the 
Lord  ! 

The  27th.  We  on  this  day,  and  the  next  morning,  traveled  to 
Skaneatelas,  where,  in  the  evening  (of  the  28th)  we  held  a  good  and 
favored  meeting  in  the  Methodist  meeting-house,  in  which  the 
Holy  and  Divine  Name  was  praised  in  consideration  of  his  mercv 
and  goodness. 

The  20th  being  First-day,  I  this  morning  affectionately  parted 
with  my  dear  friend,  Hezekiah  Collins,  who  has  for  some  time 
past  been  my  agreeable  and  sympathizing  companion  in  this  my 
present  important  and  religious  engagement.  After  parting  with 
him  I  set  out  in  company  with  my  dear  and  worthy  friend,  J()se])h 
Tallcot,  and  went  to  Simjjsonious,  where  we  held  a  jiretty  good 
meeting  for  Friends  and    ntlier-.  in  which  the  Loixl  was  with  me 

9 


130  JOURXAL    OF   THOMAS    AUXKTT.  is:« 

and  enabled  me  to  stand  forth  for  his  testimony  to  the  gloiT  of  his 
blessed  name. 

The  30th.  AVe  traveled  this  day  to  the  town  of  Venice,  where 
on  the  next  day  we  held  a  meeting  at  a  school-house,  Avhich  was 
large  and  crowded,  and  the  blessed  truth  eminently  prevailed,  to 
the  humbling  of  many  minds.  0,  that  I  may  be  sufficiently 
thankful  to  the  Lord  for  these  his  Divine  favors,  for  without  him 
I  can  do  no  good  thing  I 

Fourth  month  1st.  We  attended  Scipio.  Preparative  Meeting  of 
Friends,  which  was  to  me  a  low,  exercising  time.  I  found  some 
service,  however,  in  the  truth.  In  the  evening  we  had  a  blessed 
and  highly  favored  meeting  in  the  village  of  Aurora,  in  a  scssioti 
house  of  the  Presbyterians.  My  mind  was  eminently  opened  in  the 
doctrine  of  Christian  redemption,  truth  was  over  all,  and  the 
Lord's  name  was  praised  and  glorified. 

The  2nd.  Attended  Xorth  street  Preparative  Meeting  of  Fi-iends, 
which  was,  through  Divine  goodness,  made  a  time  of  refreshment 
and  encouragement.  In  the  evening  we  held  a  small  but  pretty 
good  meeting  in  the  town  of  Ledyard,  in  a  school-house.  The  Lord 
was  Avith  me  and  enabled  me  to  speak  in  his  blessed  name  to  good 
satisfaction. 

The  3d.  In  company  with  my  friend,  Jacob  Griffin,  I  traveled 
to  Friends'  settlement  of  Hector,  and  on  the  next  day  in  the  even- 
ing we  held  a  j^retty  open  meeting  at  the  village  of  Mecklenburgh, 
in  a  school-house,  where  I  trust  that  u'or.'<hip  was  in  a  good  degree 
ascribed  to  him  who  livoth  forever,  and  who  is  worthy  to  receive 
glory  and  honors. 

The  4th  lieing  First-day.  and  a  time  to  bo  remembered,  the  Lord 
was  mercifully  with  nie  and  pi'cserved  me,  to  the  gioi-y  of  his  name. 
We  were  at  Friends'  meeting  of  Hector,  and  experienced  a  good 
refreshing  season.  In  the  evening  we  held  a  large  and  highly 
favored  meeting  in  the  village  of  Trumansburgh,  in  the  Methodist 
meeting-house.  This  meeting  was  a  season  thankfully  to  be  re- 
membered ;  the  Lord's  power  was  over  all,  and  the  doctrine  of  the 
Christian  religion  flowed  to  the  humbling  and  tendering  of  many 
minds.  All  appeared  to  be  hushed  down  into  profound  stillness 
and  reverent  acknowledgment  of  the  mercy,  the  goodness,  and  the 
loving  kindness  of  the  King  immortal,  to  wliom  be  glory,  honor, 
and  majesty,  l)oth  now  and  evermore  I 

The  5th.  AV^e  returned  to  the  neighborhood  of  Scipio,  where  I 
was  very  kindly  received  and  entertained  by  my  dear  friend.  Job 
Otis,  and  his  family,  at  whose  house  I  s])ent  the  next  day  in  writ- 
ing and  pious  meditation  of  mind. 

The  three  following  days  I  attended  the  service  of  Scipio  Quar- 
terly fleeting,  which,  to  me,  was  a  time  of  deep  exercise  and  travail 
of  spirit ;  I  was  bowed  under  a  sense  of  the  Lord's  gracious  deal- 
ings with  his  devoted  people,  and  was  brought  to  admire  his  mercy. 


l8;!o  .IMIHN  Al.    OF    THOMAS    ARNETT.  131 

his  goodness  ;iii(l  iiis  pj-iitvctioii  to  them;  his  loving  kindness  was 
renewedly  vouchsafed  to  this  meeting,  no  that  his  great  and  worthy 
name  was  magnified  and  exalted  above  all.  Glory  forever  be  given 
to  him  I  On  the  evening  of  the  10th,  after  the  conclusion  of  this 
Quarterly  Meeting,  in  company  with  several  Friends,  I  held  a  good 
anil  precious  meeting  at  Springport,  in  the  Presbyterian  meeting- 
house.    The  Lord's  name  was  praised  and  glorified. 

The  11th,  I  this  morning,  in  company  with  my  dear  friend. 
Henry  A.  Knowles,  of  Smyrna,  who  found  a  concern  to  travel 
with  me  awhile,  set  out  and  rode  about  forty  miles  to  Palmyra, 
where,  on  the  next  day,  being  First-day,  we  attended  the  meeting 
of  Friends,  which  was  a  refreshing  season  ;  and  in  the  evening  we 
held  a  highly  interesting  meeting  ni  the  village  of  Palmyra,  in  the 
Presbyterian  meeting-house.  0,  the  goodness  and  mercy  of  God 
in  granting  me  ability  to  declare  the  glad  tidings  of  the  gosi)el  in, 
this  meeting!  His  Holy  name  was  glorified,  and  the  people  were 
very  still  and  much  humbled  in  spirit. 

On  the  loth  we  visited  a  few  families  in  this  vicinity,  to  mutual 
satisfaction  and  strength. 

The  three  following  days  we  attended  the  service  of  Farmington 
Quarterly  Meeting,  which  w^as  a  time  to  be  remembered.  The 
Lord's  presence  Avas  witness  to  the  comfort  and  edification  of 
Friends.  Much  weighty  business  was  considered  and  disposed  of 
in  Christian  harmony.  On  the  evening  of  the  IGth,  after  the  close 
of  this  Quarterly  Meeting,  we  held  a  pretty  good  meeting  at  the 
house  of  our  dear  friend,  Gideon  Ramsdell.  While  attending  this 
Quarterly  Meeting  I  received  the  following  letter  from  my  dear 
wife  : 

"Newhope,  Green  County,  Ohio,  2d  Mo.  -^Ist,  1835. 
••  My  Dear  Husband : 

"I  again  salute  thee  in  the  fresh  opening  of  that  pure 
love  which  neither  time  nor  distance  can  extinguish,  in  which  I  do 
most  sincerely  desire  thy  encouragement  in  the  way  which  leadeth 
to  everlasting  life.  I  have  no  doubt  but  thou  often  feelest  dis- 
couraged, but  in  all  thy  trials  and  conflicts  look  unto  Jesus  in  the 
oljcdience  of  faith  and  he  will  ])reserve  thee  on  every  hand  ;  he  will 
make  hard  things  e.isy  and  bitter  things  sweet;  he  Avill  sanctify 
thy  sorrows  and  i)rovi]igs,  and  cause  all  things  to  work  together  for 
thy  good.  Thy  last  letter  afforded  me  special  satisfaction  and  re- 
lief, liaving  heard  of  the  severe  cold  weather  in  that  country,  and 
being  informed  that  some  were  frozen  to  death  in  those  parts,  I 
thought  if  I  could  only  hear  that  thou  wast  alive,  I  would  be  verv 
thankful,  and  it  Avas  very  grateful  to  my  mind  in  finding  by  thy 
letter  that  thou  wast  mercifully  preserved  through  such  inclement 
weather,  and  I  believe  that  thou  wilt  be  preserved  to  the  end  as 
faithfulness  is  abode  in,  being  fully  persuaded  that  thou  art  doing 
the  Divine  Master's  will.     I  have  no  desire  for  thee  to  return  home 


!;}•>  JOl-RXAL    OF    TirO.MAS    AKXETT.  1835 

till  thou  canst  foci  true  peace  in  so  doing.  I  often  feel  very  lone- 
some and  at  times  miu-h  cast  down,  feeling  the  want  of  th}'  com- 
pany, bnt  fully  believing  that  it  is  the  Divine  will  for  thee  to  be 
thus  ibs'jnt  from  me;  I,  therefore,  am  m>rcifnlly  emibled  to  bear 
up  in  my  solitary  seasons  with  fortitude,  having  a  ho]ie  that  we 
shall  again  enjoy  each  others'  company,  with  the  reward  of  peace. 
I  h;ive  the  satisfaction  to  inform  thee,  my  dear,  that  my  health  has 
latterly  very  much  improved,  which  I  deem  as  a  special  blessing, 
an:l  for  which  1  hope  thanks  will  be  returned  to  the  Author  of  all 
good.  Many  friends  very  affectionately  remember  their  love  to 
thee,  and  much  desire  thy  preservation  and  S'r'.fe  return  home  when 
tiie  right  time  shall  come.  With  feelings  of  Grospel  love  and  sym- 
pathy, I  now  affectionately  bid  thee  farewell. 

"Rachel  Arkett." 

The  ITtli.  We  in  the  evening  of  this  day  held  a  meeting  at 
Henrietta  Academy,  which  was  rather  a  low  and  trying  time.  Un- 
der much  exercise,  however,  I  found  some  close  and  hard  work. 
Tlie  |)eople  were  very  much  outward,  and  know  but  little  about  in- 
ward stillness.  *I  was  faithful  in  discharging  my  duty  to  them,  and 
took  my  leave  of  them  in  true  gospel  love. 

The  I8th.  In  the  evening  of  this  day  we  held  a  large  and  hea- 
veidy  meeting  in  the  village  of  Scottsville,  in  the  Methodist  meet- 
ing-house. This  was  a  season  in  which  the  water  of  life  was  poured 
forth,  as  the  rain  descends  uj^on  the  garden  prepared  for  it.  May 
all  praise  forever  be  given  to  God,  for  he  is  worthy  I 

The  19th  being  First-day,  we  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at 
Wheatland,  which  was  a  refreshing  time.  In  the  evening,  in  com- 
pany with  several  Friends,  we  held  a  very  interesting  meeting  in 
Rochester,  in  the  African  Methodist  meeting-house,  for  the  colored 
people  of  that  city.  The  meeting  was  large  and  much  favored  with 
gospel  ministry.  A  great  deal  of  quietness  and  attention  prevailed, 
and  many  were  broken  into  tenderness  and  contrition.  ]\[ay  the 
L)rd  sanctify  that  opportunity  to  the  good  of  that  peoj^le.  who  ap- 
peared to  be  very  thankful  for  this  meeting.  We  parted  with  them 
in  that  love  which  spreads  over  the  whole  human  family  and  gives 
peace  to  all  the  righteous,  without  respect  to  persons. 

The  30th.  We  rode  about  thirty  miles  to  Elba,  where,  on  the 
next  day,  we  held  a  meeting  for  Friends  and  others,  in  which  my 
month  was  opened  in  living  testimony,  to  the  tendering  and  humb- 
ling of  numy  minds. 

The  23d.  We  traveled  about  thirty  miles  to  Friends'  settlement 
m  the  town  of  Orangeville,  where,  on  the  next  day,  we  held  a  trying 
and  proving  meeting.  I  found  some  hard  labor."^  Ability  at  length, 
however,  was  given  me  to  release  my  mind  to  pretty  good  satis- 
laclion. 

The  34th.  We  on  this  day  rode  about  thirty  miles  to  the  settle- 
ment of    Friends  of  Hamburgh,  where  on  the  next  day  we  staid  at 


1835  J  0  U  K-\  A  L    O  F   'I'  1 1  ( )  M  A  S    A  l{  N  KTV.  1  ;);> 

;i  Friend's  house,  being  weiiried  with  traveling  and  somewhat  un- 
well, and  therefore  we  needed  some  rest.  I  spent  this  day  mostly 
iu  writing  and  meditation.  I  wrote  a  letter  to  my  dear  wife,  feel- 
ing my  mind  to  be  turned  toward  her  in  that  true  love  whieli  ex- 
tends over  sea  and  land,  and  unites  in  gospel  fellowship. 

The  2(Jth  being  First-day,  we  held  a  large  and  full  meeting  at 
Hamburgh.  Many  came  in  who  were  not  members  of  our  .Society,  a 
number  of  whom  for  awhile  were  mu?^!  outward,  but  at  length 
truth  arose  in  such  a  manner  as  to  cause  that  humility  to  pervade 
which  the  gospel  of  Christ  inspires  ;  so  that  we  had  a  very  good 
meeting.  Gospel  ministry  eminently  flow^ed  to  the  glory  of  the 
name  of  the  Lord.  The  meeting  ended  with  i:)rayer  and  supplica- 
tion. May  all  the  praise  and  glory  forever  be  ascribed  to  the  great 
giver  of  every  good  and  perfect  gift,  for  he  is  worthy! 

The  .^9th.  A  day  of  much  deep  exercise  of  mind  with  me.  I 
this  morning  was  much  cast  down.  0,  how  I  desired  to  live  near 
the  throne  of  grace,  and  more  and  more  press  onward  in  the  way  of 
l)erfectionI  I  renewed ly  saw  the  great  necessity  of  strictly  main- 
taining daily  watchfulness  unto  prayer,  that  ability  maybe  received 
from  on  high  to  withstand  the  enemy  in  all  his  fiery  darts,  for  he  stands 
ready  to  take  every  advantage  of  the  true  believers,  when  0])i)or- 
tunity  is  given  him.  But  as  Christians  look  unto  Jesus  Christ  in 
the  obedience  of  faith  in  the  hour  of  temptation,  he  will  grant 
them  ability  to  stand  firm  at  the  approaches  of  the  evil  one. 

We  this  day  rode  to  the  city  of  13uflfalo,  where  in  the  evening  we 
held  a  pretty  good  meeting  in  the  Baptist  meeting-house.  My 
mind  was  open  in  doctrine  jind  prayer  to  good  satisfaction.  On  the 
next  day  we  returned  to  Hamlnirgh,  where,  on  the  29th,  we  at- 
tended the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends,  which  was  a  low  time.  I 
was  silent  under  much  exercise  of  mind.  0,  that  I  may  ever  Ijc 
faithful  and  be  fully  devoted  to  the  divine  will  in  all  things! 

The  30th.  We  attended  Collins  Monthly  Meeting,  Nihicli  to  me 
was  a  time  of  much  deep  exercise;  but  after  centering  down  in  that 
true  humility  which  the  gospel  inspires,  the  blessed  truth  in  a 
good  degree  arose  in  dominion,  so  that  I  found  a  living  testimony 
to  bear  to  the  glory  of  the  immortal  luime.  May  all  praise  forever 
be  ascribed  to  him  who  is  Avorthy  to  receive  glory,  honor  and 
power  I 

Fifth  month  1st.  We  this  day  held  a  meeting  at  Clear  Creek, 
where  I  found  a  living  testimony  to  deliver.  The  doctrine  of  i-e- 
generation  was  opened,  to  the  humility  of  the  minds  of  the  people. 
After  this  meeting,  I  enjoyed  this  ilay  that  true  peace  which 
the  gospel  of  Christ  inspires. 

The  2nd.  I  this  day  experienced  that  true  consolation  wliich 
alone  can  be  found  under  the  infiuences  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  <), 
how  my  spirit  rejoiced  in  God  my  salvation!  Truly  I  secretly  sang 
praises  to  his  great  and  holy  name!     We  traveled  this  day  to  Eicra, 


i;U  .lOlKNAL    OF    THOMAS    ARXETT.  is;« 

ill  Cliautau(|u;i  eoniity,  \vhere,  on  the  next  day,,  being  JMrst-day,  we 
hold  a  large  an<l  good  meeting  for  Friends  and  others.  My  mouth 
was  ojieiied  and  my  heart  was  enlarged  in  this  meeting  in  gospel 
testimony.  Christian  doctrine  flowed  freely,  to  the  humility  and 
edification  of  many  minds.  This  meeting  closed  with  ])rayerto  the 
Lord  for  all  his  mercies  and  blessings.  After  this  meeting,  tliat 
gratitude  was  renewed  in  me  to  the  Lord  which  the  gospel  inspires, 
for  his  mercy,  goodness  and  2)rotection  to  me  throughout  this  great 
journey,  for  hitherto  he  hath  been  with  me  and  preserved  and  sus- 
tained me  on  every  hand. 

I  have  now  visited,  in  gospel  love,  most  of  the  meetings  of 
Friends  of  New  York  Yearly  Meeting,  I  believe  to  good  satisfac- 
tion: and  in  passing  through  the  meetings  of  this  remotely  situated 
Yearly  Meeting,  and  feeling  in  the  pure  seed  of  life  after  the  vari- 
ous states  of  our  members  and  others  who  atteiided  meetings  with 
us  when  I  held  public  appointed  meetings  at  Friends'  meeting- 
liouses — for  many  of  such  meetings  were  often  largely  attended  by 
tliose  who  are  not  in  religious  profession  with  us — I  was  enal)led, 
through  that  adorable  mercy  which  is  from  everlasting  to  everlast- 
ing, to  divide  in  true  wisdom  the  word  of  life,  according  to  the 
need  and  conditions  of  the  people,  which  often  had  the  good  effect 
of  producing  much  tenderness  and  contrition  with  many,  and  re- 
newing that  true  sympathy  which  the  Holy  Si^irit  inspires,  so  that 
the  JjOrd's  name  on  these  occasions  Avas  often  exal.ted  and  glorified, 
and  the  sincere-hearted  comforted  and  edified,  and  sinners  were 
warned  in  true  love  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come,  and  seek  for 
sincere  repentance  toward  God,  and  faith  toward  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ. 

In  the  prosecution  of  my  visits  to  Friends  and  others  in  the 
veiuc  ol  tliis  \' early  Meeting,  I  often  had  to  mourn  in  beholding 
the  tiials  to  which  Friends  have  been  subject  in  consequence  of  the 
laie  separation  from  our  Society.  Some  meetings  were  wholly 
swept  otf  on  accou))t  thereof,  and  others  very  much  strii)i)ed  and 
reduced,  so  that  Friends,  in  a  number  of  instances,  have  to  nicet 
in  Very  small  companies,  and  altliough  they  have  many  discourage- 
ments to  encounter,  yet  tliey  are  faitiiful  in  sustaining  their  meet- 
ings, to  the  honor  of  trutli.  With  these  1  had  a  great  sympathy, 
and  was  enabled  to  encourage  them  to  trust  in  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  who  hath  promised  tlicd  where  tiro  or  three  are  gathered  in 
his  name,  he  will  he  in  the  midst  wit//  them  :  and  this  blessed  prom- 
ise he  often  fulfills,  to  the  humble  admiration  and  edification  of 
his  sincere-  people,  whom  he  will  never  forsake.  For  he  has  also 
promised  to  l»e  with  them  as  long  as  the  world  shall  stand.  There- 
fore, those  who  trust  in  him  will  witness  preservation  and  protec- 
tion in  all  the  solitary  and  afflicting  dispensations  of  this  life. 
There  are,  however,  some  large  and  lively  meetings  in  the  verge  of 
this  Yearly  Meeting  ;  and  while  I  had  to  regret  the  lukewarmness 


mr,  .TOURISrAL    OF    THOMAS    ARXETT.  135 

:inrl  indifference  whicli  prevailed  M'ith  some  of  our  members,  yet  T 
was  much  comforted  in  finding  tliat  there  are  many  valuable  and 
worthy  Friends  within  the  limits  of  this  Yearly  Meeting,  who  stand 
forth  for  the  testimony  of  truth,  and  who  have  been  enabled, 
through  divine  mercy,  to  sustain  our  discipline  and  put  it  in  execu- 
tion as  occasion  has  required,  and  as  w^ay  has  opened.  The  Hicksites 
have  taken,  I  suppose,  within  the  limits  of  this  Yearly  Meeting, 
rather  more  than  half  of  the  meeting-houses  of  Friends,  and 
amidst  those  difficulties  wdien  our  dear  Friends  had  to  leave  their 
own  meeting-houses,  and  ])rocure  other  places  for  the  holding  of 
their  religious  meetings  according  to  our  discipline,  they  were 
favored,  through  divine  mercy,  to  maintain  our  peaceable  principles 
to  the  honor  of  truth,  so  that  while  we,  as  a  Christian  Society,  liave 
witnessed  trials  of  a  deeply  affecting  nature,  the  Lord  has  been 
with  us  and  blessed  us,  to  the  glory  and  honor  of  his  name. 

In  the 'prosecution  of  this  great  and  important  journey,  I  often 
met  with  sincere  and  secret  mourners  in  Zion,  and  these  strongly 
ehiimed  my  tender  solicitude  and  my  sympathy.  For  it  is  one  of 
the  interesting  concerns  of  the  true  and  faithful  minister  of  the  great 
Head  of  the  Church,  to  go  forth  in  that  immortal  principle  which  will 
again  and  again  renew  Christian  sympathy  for  those  who  mourn  in 
Zion,  who  often  feel  poor  and  needy,  and  who  are  often  cast  doAvnin 
spirit.  For  he  who  "  died  for  our  sins,"  and  "  Avas  buried,"  and  "  rose 
again  the  third  day  according  to  the  scriptures," and  "ascended  up 
far  above  all  heavens,  that  he  might  fill  all  things,"  still  invites  by 
the  everlasting  gospel  which  is  preached  in  his  name,  to  (or  in 
every  creature  which  is  under  heaven),  after  this  manner,  "Come 
unto  me  all  ye  that  labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  Avill  give  you 
rrst."  Therefore,  he  who  goes  forth  with  the  I'ight  anointing,  to  de- 
clare the  glad  tidings  of  the  gosjiel,  will  frequently  be  eiuibled, 
through  the  agency  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  to  speak  a  w^ord  of  comfort 
and  consolation  to  the  solitary  mourners  in  Zion,  and  invite  them, 
in  gos]xd  love,  to  look  unto  him  for  true  rest  who  is  the  author 
and  finisher  of  our  faith,  who  is  touched  with  the  feeling  of  our 
infirmities,  and  who  causeth  all  things  to  Avork  together  for  good  to 
them  that  love  him.  For,  although  the  heaven  is  his  throne,  a?id  the 
<^arth  is  his  footstool,  yet  he  beholdeth,  w^ith  infinite  mercy  and  com- 
jiassion,  all  the  poor  in  spirit,  and  he  Avill  more  and  more  sanctify 
their  mourning,  affliction,  and  tribulation,  to  the  glory  and  honor 
of  his  exalted  and  immortal  name. 

I  believe  that  the  prosecution  of  this  arduous  and  exercising 
journey  has  not  only  Ijeen  interesting  to  me,  but  to  many  others. 
For,  in  many  instances,  I  met  with  serious  iiKjuirers  after  the 
blessed  truth,  who  Avere  not  in  open  j)rofession  Avith  Friends.  Fre- 
quently, Avhen  I  put  up  at  public-houses  for  entertainment,  those 
of  this  description  came  in  to  see  me,  and  introduced  the  subject  of 
the  Christian  religion  for  conversation,  wherebv  I  Avould  soon  find 


13G  JOLKXAL    OF    TUO.MAS    AKXETT.  mr< 

that  they  Avcre,  in  some  degree,  under  the  poAver  of  the  cross  of 
Christ ;  and  by  being  faithful  to  the  pointings  of  truth,  I  was 
favored  to  direct  I  hem  to  the  great  ''Minister  of  the  sanctuary,  and 
of  the  true  t;ibernacle  which  the  Lord  pitched,  and  not  mnn,"  for 
divine  instruction  and  consohition.  I  also,  in  many  of  the  public 
meetings  which  I  held  amongst  other  Christian  denominations, 
found  many  tender  and  broken-hearted  ones,  who  loved  the  blessed 
cross  of  Christ  more  than  the  vanity  of  a  fallen  world.  These 
were,  also,  through  divine  mercy,  directed  to  him  who  liveth  for- 
ever and  ever  for  true  rest  of  spirit.  So  that  I  often  met  with 
those,  both  in  private  and  in  public,  who  were  under  the  refining 
and  qualifying  power  of  truth  for  service  in  the  church  ;  and  while 
I  had  cause  to  mourn,  in  beholding  the  desolation  of  unbelief,  in 
many  instances  I  was  encouraged  in  believing  that  there  are  many, 
not  only  in  our  Society,  but  also  in  other  Christian  denominations, 
who,  in  a  good  degree,  are  faithful  to  the  instruction  of  that  true 
principle  which  dwells  with  the  Lord's  people  in  every  age  of  the 
world. 

In  the  prosecution  of  this  weighty  and  very  important  eng.ige- 
ment,  my  mind  Avas  often  impressed  with  a  deep  sense  of  the  im- 
portance of  the  subject  of  divine  and  acceptable  Avorship  to  him 
"  Avho  is  the  blessed  and  only  Potentate,  the  King  of  kings,  and 
Lord  of  lords  ;  who  only  hath  immortality,  dwelling  in  the  light 
which  no  man  can  approacli  unto;  whom  no  man  hath  seen  nor  can 
see;  to  whom  be  honor  and  poAver  everlasting  !"  and  as  this  deeply 
interesting  subject  impressed  me,  I  often  had  to  mourn  in  believ- 
ing that  many  Avho  are  in  open  religious  profession  Avith  i;s, 
through  inattention  to  the  influence  and  instruction  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  often  fall  short  of  the  faithful  performance  of  this  great 
duty.  It  is  a  testimony  of  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  that 
"God  is  a  Spirit."  This  is  one  of  the  first,  the  greatest,  the  most 
sublime  and  necessary  truths  in  the  compass  of  nature.  There  is  a 
God,  the  cause  of  all  things — the  fountain  of  all  perfection,  idling 
the  heavens  and  the  earth,  pervading,  governing,  and  upholding  all 
things.  He  is  an  infinite  Spirit,  he  looketh  on  the  earth  and  it 
tumbleth,  he  toucheth  the  hills  and  they  smoke;  and  as  all  Creatures 
Avere  made  by  him,  so  all  owe  him  obedience  and  reverence:  and  for 
us  to  to  be  acceptable  in  his  sight,  our  Avorship  to  him  must  be  of  a 
spiritual  nature,  must  spring  from  the  heart  through  the  influence 
of  the  Holy  Sj^irit,  and  it  must  be  in  truth,  springing  up  under  the 
poAver  of  the  cross  of  Christ,  according  to  the  divine  revelation 
which  he  mercifully  gives  us  of  himself.  Those  who  neglect  tliis 
true  and  acceptable  Avorship  to  God,  cannot  deepen  in  the  root  of 
that  immortal  principle  Avhich  bears  up  the  mind  in  the  afflictions 
of  this  life. 

If  the  members  of  our  religious  society  Avould  always  be  careful 
to  meet  for  divine  Avorship  according  to    our   holy   profession,  and 


is«  ,1 0  L"  1!  X  A  I .    O  I'     r  1 1( »  M  A  S    \\{  N  i:'!"!'.  1  o T 

iipproiich  before  tliu  Lord  in  a  riglit  frame  of  uiiud.  tliere  would 
be  more  solid  weight  in  our  religions  meetings  than  is  often  experi- 
enced; for  while  I  believe  that  tliere  are  many  amongst  us  who  are 
very  faithful  to  the  performance  of  the  great  duty  of  worship,  I 
am  persuaded  that  there  are  those  also  among  us  who  are  too  in- 
different in  regard  to  this  deei)ly  interesting  duty,  and  fJw.ye  instead 
of  being  instrumental  in  adding  weight  to  our  religious  assemblies, 
often  bring  sorrow  and  mourning  upon  the  minds  of  the  faithful. 
When  we  consider  that  the  earth  is  the  Lord's  and  the  fullness  there- 
of, that  every  blessing  we  receive  comes  from  him,  that  without 
him  we  can  do  no  good  thing,  and  that  without  his  continual  pro- 
tection we  cannot  be  upheld  and  supported,  our  hearts  glow 
toward  him  with  that  true  gratitude  which  the  Holy  Ghost  inspires; 
and  we  also  feel  bound  under  the  strongest  obligations  to  ascribe 
to  him  that  true  worship  which  is  ever  his  due  ;  and  we  deplore  in 
beholding  many  of  our  members,  who  are  partaking  daily  of  his 
blessings,  yet  being  unmindful  of  the  greatest  duty  which  devolves 
ujjon  us  in  this  life,  that  of  ascribing  to  him  that  worship,  homage, 
and  adoration  Avhich  we  jioor,  finite,  fallen,  and  dependent  beings 
owe  to  him.  0,  that  every  one  who  nameth  the  name  of  Christ 
may  depart  from  iniquity,  and  more  and  more  daily  maintain  in- 
ward watchfulness  unto  j^rayer,  praying  without  ceasing,  in  every- 
thing giving  thanks,  and  ascribing  that  worship  to  God  which 
stands  in  spirit  and  truth  I 

The  4:th.  Having  completed  the  religious  service  and  gospel  la- 
bors wdiicli  the  Lord,  my  gracious  Master,  pointed  out  in  mercy  for 
me  within  the  limits  of  Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  New  York,  and 
ISTew  Engiaiul  Yearly  Meetings  of  Friends,  and  seeing  my  way  home 
in  that  true  light  which  hath  gone  before  me  throughout  this  great 
journey,  I  therefore,  this  morning,  with  a  peaceful  mind,  set  my 
face  homeward,  in  company  with  my  dear  friend  who  is  now  my 
companion,  he  having  found  a  concern  to  bear  me  company  part  of 
the  way  liome;  and  while  Ave  traveled  together  on  my  Avay  home,  I 
enjoyed  that  true  peace  which  this  world  can  neither  give  nor  take 
away.  I  secretly  sang  that  true  song  which  none  can  sing  but  the 
redeemed  and  the  ransomed  of  the  Lord;  my  heart  rejoiced  in  him, 
my  Savior  and  my  salvation.  I  retrospected  my  past  life,  and  had 
great  cause  to  admire  the  goodness,  the  mercy,  and  the  loving  kind- 
ness of  the  Lord,  a  sense  of  which  humbled  me  with  that  true  hu- 
mility Avhich  the  divine  principle  of  life  inspires.  While  I  was  thus 
pervaded,  I  took  a  general  view  of  this  great  journey,  which  I  am 
now  completing,  and  had  all  cause  to  believe  that  the  Lord  was 
with  me,  and  in  many  instances  made  way  for  me  where  there  ap- 
peared to  be  no  way;  and,  0,  that  I  may  increasingly  be  faithful 
to  him  as  long  as  I  live,  and  trust  alone  in  his  blessed  and  worthy 
name  I  We  arrived  at  Salem,  in  Columbiana  county,  in  tlie  State 
of  Ohio,  on  the  7th,  where,  the  two  following  days,  we  attended  the 


i;}8  .lOL'HXAL   OF   THOMAS    ARN^ETT.  1835 

Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends,  which  was  a  good,  refreshing  season. 
Friends  were  very  ghid  to  see  me,  and  I  was  equally  glad  to  see 
them,  so  that  this  was  a  time  of  much  interesting  feeling  and  sym- 
])athy.  Blessed  forever  be  the  name  of  him  who  livetli  forever  and 
ever  I 

Tlie  10th  Ijeing  First-day,  we  attended  the  ]\[eeting  of  Friends 
for  worshi})  at  .Salem,  which  was  a  solemn  impressive  time,  and 
after  this  meeting  1  very  affectionately  parted  with  my  dear  friend, 
Ilrnry  A.  Knowles,  who  lias  been  for  some  time  past  my  very 
agreeable  and  sympathising  companion,  and  in  company  with  some 
dear  friends  I  traveled  this  afternoon  about  twenty-five  miles,  to 
Wellsville,  a  small  village  on  the  Ohio  river,  and  on  the  next  morn- 
ing I  parted  with  these  dear  friends,  who  kindly  accompanied  me 
this  far,  and  Avent  on  board  a  steamboat  for  the  city  of  Cincinnati, 
where  I  was  landed  on  the  14th,  in  the  forenoon,  and  in  the  after- 
noon of  the  same  day  I  took  a.  passage  in  the  public  stage  for 
Xenia.  a  fine  village  near  my  habitation,  where  I  arrived  early  on 
the  next  morning,  the  15th,  and  had  the  satisfaction  there  to 
meet  with  a  dear  friend,  who  immediately  took  mo  in  his  carriage 
and  went  home  with  me.  So  that  on  this  day  I  was,  through 
the  mercy  and  protection  of  God,  favored  again  to  see  my  own 
home,  and  there  meet  with  my  dear  wife  and  family,  with  that 
ti-ue  j)eace  which  alone  springs  from  the  Savior  of  the  world. 
My  dear  wife  and  family  and  friends  were  very  glad  again  to  see 
me,  and  I  was  glad  to  see  them  and  to  be  with  them,  after  be- 
ing so  long  from  them. 

I  was  from  home  on  this  great  journey  one  year,  six  months, 
and  about  twelve  days,  and  traveled,  according  to  computation, 
about  eight  thousand  miles,  and  attended,  including  the  several 
sittings  of  the  Yearly  and  Quarterly  Meetings  which  I  was  at, 
and  also  some  family  opportunities,  about  the  number  of  five 
hundred  meetings.  "^May  all  praise  forever  be  given  to  God  I 
Amen  I 

After  I  returned  home  from  off  this  lengthy  journey,  for  about 
the  space  of  the  following  five  years  I  found  much  to  do  within 
the  limits  of  our  own  Yearly  Meeting  ;  frequently  holding  })ublic 
appointed  meetings  for  divine  worship  for  Friends  and  others  in 
these  parts  ;  my  mind  being  drawn  forth  to  the  divers  religious 
denominations  in  gospel  love,  for  the  dissemination  of  the  glad 
tklings  of  the  blessed  truth.  I  was  also  often  engaged  in  visiting 
Friends'  meetings  for  discipline,  as  Avay  opened,  in  order  to  stir  up 
tlie  pure  mind  and  to  strengthen  the  hands  of  the  faithful  laborers. 
Jn  this  service  the  Lord  was  mercifully  with  me,  and  gave  me 
strength,  Avisdom  and  utterance  to  the  "glory  and  honor  of  his 
worthy  name,  and  to  the  consolation  and  'edification  of  the  sincere 
devoted    ones.     And   in   addition  to  this  engagement,  our  Yearly 


1835  JOIJJNAL    OF    THOMAS    AKNKT'r.  18'.) 

]\[eetiiig  and  Meeting  for  Sufferings,  as  well  as  other  meetings  for 
discipline,  often  ]iut  npon  me  weiglity  a])pointments  in  connection 
Avitli  other  Friends,  there  being  a  great  call  for  mncli  faithful  and 
honest  laborers  within  the  limits  of  onr  Yearly  Meeting,  in  order  to 
guard  well  the  faith,  the  doctrines  and  the  varions  testimonies  of 
our  Society  on  every  hand  ;  and  in  the  ]irosecution  of  this  labor  the 
Oreat  Head  of  the  Church  was  with  us,  and  enabled  us  to  sustain 
his  good  cause,  to  the  ])raise  and  honor  of  his  holy  name,  and  to 
the  peace  of  our  own  minds,  often  sending  his  faithful  servants 
amongst  us  from  other  Yearly  Meetings  for  our  help  and  assistance, 
so  that  we  had  cause  to  l)e  thankful  to  him  for  his  continued  care 
and  pi'otection  to  us.  *• 

I  also  in  these  days  found  much  to  engage  my  attention  and  con- 
sideration at  home,  my  dear  wife  being  much  afflicted  with  bodily 
indisposition  for  a  considerable  length  of  time,  which  was  c;mse  of 
trial  and  grief  to  me;  but  I  trusted  alone  in  that  great  and  worthy 
l)eing  who  has  preserved  and  sustained  me  through  many  troubles, 
and  I  daily  experienced  in  degree  his  support  and  guidance.  We 
at  length  had  the  deep  mortification  and  trial  to  bury  another  dear 
son,  our  third  child,  and  no  language  can  dcscril)e  our  feelings  on 
this  deeply  afflicting  occasion  ;  the  fresh  remembrance  of  all  of  our 
dear  children  having  been  taken  away  from  us,  brought  that  deep 
humility  upon  us  which  enabled  its  in  the  obedience  of  faith  both 
to  hope  and  quietly  wait  for  the  salvation  of  the  Lord,  and  to 
l>raise  his  great  and  holy  name  for  all  his  gracious  dealings  towards 
us  ;  he  having,  again  and  again,  through  great  mercy,  pei-mitted 
the  hand  of  adversity  to  be  turned  and  overturned  upon  us  for  our 
good  and  advance  in  the  path  of  the  just,  which  is  as  the  shining- 
light  which  shineth  more  and  more  unto  the  perfect  day.  Tender 
a  deep  sense  of  his  mercy  in  his  Son,  our  holy  Saviour,  that  all  in- 
fants that  die  in  innocency  are  saved  through  his  meritorious 
sufferings  and  righteousness,  Ave  thankfully  acknowledged  his 
mercy  in  taking  away  our  dear  children  from  the  evil  to  come, 
and  blessing  them  with  the  crown  of  immortal  glory  that  fadeth 
not  away. 

A  concern  for  some  time  ])ast  having  impressed  my  mind  to  pay 
a  religious  visit  to  the  Yearly  Meetings  of  Ohio  and  Baltimore,  and 
to  ai>point  some  meetings  in  thosti  parts  for  Friends  and  others,  I 
seasonably  opened  this  concern  to  Friends  of  our  Monthly  and 
Quarterly  Meetings,  and  obtained  a  good  certificate  of  them  for  the 
prosecution  of  the  journey.  My  dear  fiiend,  Asa  H.  Hoge,  with 
the  unity  of  Friends,  was  my  companion  in  this  service.  We  set 
out  071  this  im]iortant  engagement  on  the  22d  day  of  the  Sixth 
month,  1840,  parting  with  my  dear  wife  and  family  with  tears,  and 
with  prayer  and  supplication  for  our  mutual  preservation  and  pro- 
tection. We  held  a  very  interesting  meeting  at  JamestoAvn,  where 
many  met  us  to  take  their  leave  of  us,  commending  us  to  Divine 


140  JDl  KNAL    OF    THOMAS    AKXETT.  183.5 

protection,  liiid  on  the  next  day,  being  First-day,  we  held  meetings 
tit  Green  Phiin,  and  at  Springfield  in  the  evening,  in  the  Presby- 
terian meeting-house,  which  were  seasons  of  eminent  Divine  favor. 

The  "iith.  We  traveled  to  the  city  of  Columbus,  and  spent  the 
next  dav  in  visiting  the  public  benevolent  institutions  there,  and  in 
the  evening  held  a  good  open  meeting  in  the  Methodist  meeting- 
house. The  '2Gth.  We  this  morning  left  this  city,  and  on  the  next 
morning  landed  at  Zanesville,  where  we  held  a  meeting  in  the  even- 
ing for  the  3Iethodists  and  others,  which  was  a  good  season.  On 
the  two  following  days  we  traveled  to  the  neighborhood  of  Flush- 
ing, where,  on  the  30th,  we  attended  the  First-day  meeting  of 
Friends,  which  was  through  holy  help  nuide  a  good  and  heavenly 
season. 

The  31st.  We  held  meetings  for  divine  worship  at  Guernsey  and 
Freeport,  for  Friends  and  others,  whicli  Avere  well  attended  and 
favored  with  the  overshadowing  presence  of  the  Good  Shepherd. 
Many  minds  were  reached  and  humbled  in  thankful  acknowledg- 
ment of  his  mercy,  goodness  and  protection. 

Ninth  month  1.  We  rode  to  the  neighborhood  of  Westgrove, 
and  on  the  next  day  we  attended  Friends'  Meeting  thei'e, 
and  in  the  evening  held  a  meeting  at  Cadiz  in  the  Methodist 
meeting-house,  and  the  power  of  truth  was  present  in  these*meet- 
ings,  to  the  humble  admiration  of  many.  The  3rd.  We  attended 
Friends'  meeting  of  Harrisville,  which,  after  waiting  some  time  in 
silence,  was  made  a  good  and  open  season.  After  this  we  went  to 
the  town  of  Mount  Pleasant  in  order  to -attend  the  Yearly  Meeting 
of  Ohio,  Avhicli  commenced  on  the  5th  and  closed  its  session  on  the 
11th,  where  we  met  with  divers  other  Friends  engaged  in  the 
work  of  the  ministry,  from  various  parts,  who  found  much  good 
service  for  the  Lord,  so  that  this  was  a  good  meeting  to  many. 

T  found  some  good  service  in  this  Yearl}'  Meeting,  Imt  through 
the  most  i)art  thereof  it  was  my  lot  to  go  down  in  judgment  and 
to  suffer  witii  the  suffering  seed,  whicii  was  depressed  in  many,  in 
consequence  of  the  cares  and  love  of  this  world  :  and  in  this  bap- 
tism truth  preserved  me  to  my  furtherance  in  Christian  experience. 
Many  worthy  and  valuable  friends  belong  to  this  Yearly  Meeting, 
who  were  favored  to  conduct  the  concerns  which  came  before  them, 
in  a  good  degree,  with  Christian  harmony  and  brotherly  condescen- 
sion. 

After  the  Yearly  Meeting  we  paid  several  visits  to  Friends"  fami- 
lies in  this  neighborhood,  rather  in  a  social  way,  to  good  satisfac- 
tion, and  on  the  13th  avc  attended  Friends'  meeting  at  Concord, 
where  I  was  opened  in  the  love  of  the  gospel,  my  spirit  being  much 
set  at  liberty  to  speak  to  the  states  of  the  people.  Praised  be  the 
name  of  the  Lord  I 

The  14tli  and  l.")th  we  traveled  to  Salem,  and  on  the  16tli  we 
were  at  Friends'  meeting  there,  which  was  large,  and  in  a  good 


1835  JOrUXAI.    ()!•     11 1  (> MAS    A  K  N  KTT.  141 

degree  owned  by  tlic  blessed  triitli.  The  ITtli  wo  held  meetings 
at  Springfield  and  (ioshen,  wliei-o  I  was  enabled  to  speak  on  the 
subject  of  Faith  and  Devotion,  to  satisfaction.  We  held,  on  the  18th, 
a  good  and  large  meeting  at  New  Gnrden;  my  mind  was  much 
opened  in  the  love  of  truth,  to  encourage  the  faithful  ones,  and  to 
warn  sinners  of  the  wrath  to  come  on  tlie  children  of  disobedience. 
Tlie  10th  we  attended  Carmel  Monthly  Meeting,  where  I  delivered, 
under  deep  exercise,  a  short  but  impressive  testimony,  tending  to 
stir  up  Friends  to  more  faithful  diligence,  under  the  conviction  of 
the  existence  of  lukewarmness  in  this  meeting,  as  well  as  at  many 
other  places  in  these  parts,  which  caused  much  decj)  mourning  to 
my  spi]-it,  often  having  to  go  down  in  judgment,  to  eat  the  roll  of 
the  book  containing  lamentations,  and  weeping,  and  woe;  but  I  was 
favored  again  and  again  to  come  forth  and  speak  to  the  states  of 
the  people,  to  the  glory  of  the  blessed  Saviour,  and  to  the  peace  of 
my  own  mind. 

The  "^Oth,  being  First-day,  we  held  a  good  and  open  meeting  at 
Middletown,  for  Friends  and  others.  I  was  drawn  in  the  authority 
of  truth  to  deliver  some  important  ])oints  of  Christian  doctrine. 
Some  were  much  tendered  and  humbled,  in  thankful  acknowledge- 
ment of  the  providence  of  the  great  and  Almighty  Creator  of  the 
heav'fn  and  the  earth. 

After  this,  we  set  out  for  Friends  settlement  of  Sewickly,  in  Penn- 
sylvania, where  we  arrived  in  time  to  attend  their  Preparative 
meeting,  on  the  23d,  and  on  thenext  day  weheldaj)ublica})pointed 
meeting  there,  for  Friends  and  others,  which  was  well  attended, 
and  the  power  of  truth  was  over  all;  the  good  seed  was  reached  to, 
and  the  evil  chained  down  in  many,  so  that  the  Lord's  name  was 
mngnified. 

The  'ioth  we  held  a  deeply  interesting  meeting  at  the  town  of 
West  Xewton.  People  of  divers  religious  denominations  attended, 
among  whom  my  soul  was  much  set  at  liberty,  to  the  glory  and 
honor  of  the  name  immortal.  Truth  reigned  in  dominion;  every 
mind  seemed  to  be  hushed  down  in  profound  silence,  and  ])repared 
to  receive  the  truth  as  it  was  delivered,  in  demonstration  of  the 
spirit  and  with  power.  This  meeting  closed  with  prayer  and  thanks- 
giving to  the  Lord  for  all  his  mercies  and  blessings  to  us. 

After  this  we  held  several  meetings  for  divine  worship  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Brownsville,  for  Friends  and  others,  which  were  well 
attended,  and  much  favored  with  the  doctrine  of  truth,  my  mind 
being  much  led  out  into  the  states  and  conditions  of  the  people. 

On  the  30th  we  attended  Redstone  Monthly  meeting,  wliich  was 
a  time  of  great  suffering.  I  was  silent  in  the  meeting,  under  the 
apprehension  that  the  life  of  true  religion  was  low,  and  thatF'riends 
loved  this  world  more  than  the  cross  of  Christ,  which  caused  deep 
inward  mourning  to  me.  I  thought  that  the  minds  of  Friends  in 
this    meeting   were   so   taken  uj)  with  the  cares  of  this  life   that 


l-i->  -lurUN'AI.    Ol"    THOMAS    AK-VETT.  isa5 

tliere  was  no  opening  among  them  for  the  free  circuhition  of  the 
blessed  truth.  I,  therefoix',  found  it  to  be  my  duty  to  lie  low  and 
dwell  deep,  and  keep  my  exercise  to  myself  while  among  them, 
fervently  desiring  at  the  same  time  the  renewal  of  divine  favor  upon 
Friends  of  this  Monthly  Meeting. 

Tenth  mo.  1st.  We  set  out  this  morning  for  Hopewell,  in  Vw- 
ginia,  where  we  arrived  in  time  to  attend  Friends'  First-day  meeting 
for  worship,  on  the  4th,  and  found  Friends  very  glad  to  see  us, 
among  whom  we  had  a  refreshing  season  ;  and  after  holding  several 
highly  favored  meetings  in  these  parts  for  Friends  and  others,  and 
attending  Hopewell  Monthly  Meeting,  all  to  good  satisfaction,  the 
])ower  of  truth  being  with  us,  and  enabled  us  to  go  forth  to  the 
refreshing  tenderness  and  humility  of  our  fellow  beings,  we  set  out 
for  Goose  Creek,  in  Louden  county,  where  we  attended  Friends'* 
meeting  on  the  loth,  which  was  small,  but  favored  with  the  divine 
jiresence;  and  after  holding  some  meetings  in  these  parts  for  Friends 
and  others,  we,  on  the  18th,  being  First-day,  held  one  at  Leesburgh, 
in  the  Methodist  meeting-house,  which  was  very  large,  and  emi- 
nently favored  with  the  doctrine  of  Christian  redemption.  The 
people  were  still  and  quiet,  and  appeared  to  be  well  satisfied  with 
the  meeting. 

The  19th.  We  set  out  this  morning  and  traveled  about  thirty 
miles  to  Washington  City,  where  we  spent  the  fore  part  of  the  next 
day  in  taking  a  view  of  some  of  the  public  buildings,  with  a  sincere 
desire  for  the  peaceful  preservation  of  our  beloved  country.  Under 
the  conviction  of  the  critical  situation  of  this  Xation,  on  account 
of  the  sin  of  slavery,  and  many  other  evils,  we  were  much  humbled 
in  secret  prayer  and  supplication  for  mercy  to  the  citizens  of  this 
great  and  extended  Republic.  In  the  afternoon  we  obtained  an 
interesting  interview  with  the  President  of  the  United  States,  in 
which  was  brought  to  view  subjects  of  a  religious  nature,  calculated 
to  imbue  the  mind  with  a  sense  of  the  providence  of  that  Being 
who  presides  in  the  council  of  Nations,  and  by  whom  civil  rulers 
reign  and  Princes  decree  Justice.  In  taking  our  leave  of  him,  he 
aj^peared  to  be  thankful  for  our  visit  to  him,  so  that  we|)arted  with 
him  in  that  true  love  which  casteth  out  fear.  In  the  evening,  by 
early  caudle-light,  we  held  a  good  and  open  meeting  in  Georgetown, 
among  the  Methodists  and  others,  and  on  the  "21st  we  set  out  for 
the  city  of  Baltimore,  and  landed  there  in  the  evening,  where 
friends  api)eared  to  be  glad  to  see  us,  and  on  the  next  day  we  at- 
tended l-'riends'  meeting  in  this  city,  where  it  was  my  lot  to  sit  in^ 
suffering  silence.  My  spirit  supplicated  the  mercy  and  protection 
of  truth,  that  in  all  things  I  may  be  preserved  on  every  hand.  On 
the  23rd  we  attended  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends  in  this  city, 
which  was  a  low  time.  Friends,  however,  were  favored  to  transact 
their  business  to  mutual  satisfaction. 

The  Yearly  Meeting  of  Baltimore  commenced  on  the  24th,  and 


is.i5  .)Ori{>CAL   OF    TJIUMAS    AKXETT.  14)^ 

closed  its  session  on  tlie  29th.  I  found  much  good  service  for  the 
Lord  in  tiiis  meeting.  Other  Friends,  also,  who  were  present,  en- 
gaged in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  were  favored,  to  the  satisfaction 
of  Friends;  all  of  us  laboring  together  for  the  promotion  of  the 
same  cause  of  truth. 

This  Yearly  Meeting,  though  it  was  small,  yet  through  divine 
mercy  was  made  a  time  of  mutual  refreshment.  The  aged  and  sin- 
cere were  encouraged  to  hold  on  their  way  to  the  end,  the  luke- 
warm were  admonished  in  gospel  love  to  more  diligence  and  faith- 
fulness, and  the  beloved  youth  were  exhorted  to  bear  the  yoke  in 
early  life,  and  to  cast  their  all  in  the  obedience  of  faith  (tu  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

After  the  conclusion  of  this  Yearly  Meeting  we  turned  our  faces 
homeward,  and  traveled  ou  slowly,  often  feeling  concerned  to  stop 
and  hold  meetings  for  divine  worship  on  the  way,  according  to  the 
pointing  of  truth;  and  finding  much  openness  with  the  people  for 
meetings  in  divers  places,  we  therefore  held  a  number  of  good  and 
open  meetings,  to  mutual  satisfaction,  on  our  way  home,  where  we 
were  favored  to  arrive  on  the  10th  day  of  the  11th  month,  1840.  I 
found  my  family  in  pretty  good  health,  for  which  I  was  thankful, 
feeling  peace  of  mind  for  this  dedication  of  religious  duty.  We 
were  out  on  this  journey  about  twelve  weeks  and  five  days,  and 
traveled,  by  computation,  about  fourteen  hundred  miles,  and  were 
preserved  together  in  gospel  sym])athy. 

After  I  returned  home  from  otf  this  journey,  there  appeared  to 
be  increasing  difficulties  within  the  limits  of  our  Yearly  Meeting, 
on  the  subject  of  slavery,  wdiicli  called  forth  the  united  labor  of 
many  solid  Friends  amongst  us,  to  guard  our  testimony  in  its  true 
light,  as  well  as  to  maintain  all  our  other  testimonies  on  Christian 
ground.  Some  Friends,  who  stood  high  as  ministers  in  our  society, 
with  several  others  of  the  leaders  of  our  ^'early  Meeting,  left  the 
proper  ground  for  Friends  to  occup\  in  the  maintenance  of  our 
various  testimonies,  and  went  out  into  the  over-active  field  of  the 
anti-slavery  societies,  which  was  cause  of  very  deep  distress  to  me 
and  many  other  dear  Friends.  We  sujjj^licated  to  the  Great  ILnid 
of  the  Church  in  the  spirit  of  truth,  for  strength  and  wisdom  to  do 
his  will  in  relation  to  this  dee^jly  affecting  difficulty;  when,  at 
length,  our  Yearly  Meeting  was  favored,  through  his  interposition, 
to  issue  advice  to  our  members,  neither  to  join  the  popular  associa- 
tions of  the  world  on  the  subject  of  slavery,  as  they  were  producing 
great  confusion  and  excitement  in  our  beloved  country,  and  much 
calculated  to  lead  away  from  under  the  weight  of  the  cross  of 
Christ,  nor  to  open  our  meeting-houses  for  anti-slavery  lectures, 
because,  in  general,  such  lectures  amounted  to  be  reproachful  abuses 
to  our  Society,  and  to  other  respectable  Churches  in  our  country. 
We  could  not,  therefore,  consistently  countenance  them;  and  this 
advice  was  oi)enly  and  publicly  violated  and  opposed  l)y  tlicse  our 
disaffected  members. 


144  JOIKXAI.    OF    TIIOMA.S    AKXETT.  I8:i5 

This  serious  difficulty  brought  on  me,  and  on  other  solid  Friends, 
ver}'  deep  exercise.  We  labored  with  these  disaffected  members  faith- 
fully, in  the  spirit  of  truth,  for  sometime,  for  their  restoration  into 
the  unity  and  travail  of  our  Society.  But  this  Christian  lalior, which 
was  extended  to  them  in  the  tenderest  love,  and  with  tears  and 
supplication,  appeared  to  be  calculated  more  and  more  to  harden 
them,  because  they  stood  in  opposition  to  the  fervent  travail  of  the 
Church  of  Christ.  While  our  Yearly  Meeting  was  in  session,  in 
the  year  1842,  a  very  deep  and  mighty  concern  came  upon  me,  that 
a  faithful  standard  might  be  raised  against  this  over-active  zeaJ, 
which  appeared  to  be  calculated  not  only  to  ])roduce  schisms  in  the 
churches,  but  also  to  dissolve  civil  government,  if  permitted  by 
divine  providence  to  have  poAver  to  control  the  aifairs  in  civil  com- 
munities. I  tlierefore,  under  great  weight  of  spirit,  and  with  fear 
and  trembling,  in  the  constraining  power  of  gospel  love,  stood  forth 
in  this  large  Yearly  Meeting  for  the  testimony  of  truth,  and 
brought  to  review  the  propriety  of  appointing  those  on  the  weighty 
services  of  society  who  stood  in  unity  with  Friends,  and  faithfully 
maintained  the  discipline,  the  travail,  and  the  advice  of  our  So- 
ciety, and  that  those  who  had  opeidy  and  publicly  violated  and 
opposed  the  discipline,  the  travail,  and  the  advice  of  our  Yearly 
Meeting,  ought  not  to  be  placed  on  the  weighty  services  of  Society 
while  they  remain  in  such  manifest  opposition  to  the  body. 

This  ])roposition  was  united  with  by  a  general  expression  of 
unity  by  those  who  endeavored  to  live  near  the  Great  Head  of  the 
church,  and  near  one  another  in  the  fellowship  of  the  gospel;  de- 
siring under  all  circumstances  to  lead  a  quiet  and  peacable  life,  in 
all  godliness  and  honesty,  which  is  good  and  acceptable  in  the  sight 
of  that  J>eing  whose  providence  is  over  all  his  works.  Thus  a  firm 
standard  was  effectually  raised  in  our  Yearly  Meeting  against  this 
unholy  zeal,  and  measures  were  taken  to  carry  out  this  standard 
down  to  the  subordinate  meetings,  by  issuing  an  epistle  of  advice 
adapted  to  the  state  of  Society,  and  by  a])pointing  a  committee  of 
men  and  women  Friends  to  go  down  with  it  and  labor  in  the  spirit 
of  truth  for  the  restoration  of  these  our  disaffected  members,  and 
for  the  maintenance  of  the  order  and  advice  of  our  Yearly  ]\[eeting. 

Soon  after  this  Yearly  Meeting,  we  who  stood  appointed  on  this 
committee  entered  into  our  labors  according  to  the  pointings  of 
trutli,  and  were  favored  to  go  forth  to  the  honor  of  tlie  good 
cause;  and  visited  those  meetings  for  discijiline  generally  where  this 
disaffection  existed,  to  tlie  satisfaction  and  help  of  our  dear  Friends 
who  stood  in  unity  with  the  body.  But  our  distiff'ected  members 
opposed  us  ojienly,  declaring  their  disunity  with  the  proceedings  of 
our  '^' early  Meeting.  But  we  were  enabled  faithfully  to  discharge 
our  religious  duty  to  them,  warning  them  in  gospel  love  of  the 
awful  consequences  of  sei)a)-ating  themselves  from  the  unity  and 
fellowshij)  of  our  religious  Societv. 


1843  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  145 

The  present  appears  to  be  an  awful  time  in  our  beloved  country 
in  many  instances,  a  time  wherein  sin  and  ini(juity  do  very  much 
abound  Avith  many,  and  also  with  this  nation;  for  the  combined 
sins  of  individuals  form  the  accumulated  iniquity  of  a  nation. 

While  the  subject  of  slavery  is  producing  excitement  and  sejjara- 
tions  in  the  various  churches,  and  great  confusion  and  distress  in 
our  civil  community,  other  subjects  are  intervening  before  the 
religious  and  civil  community  of  a  very  specious  appearance,  in 
many  of  the  public  newspapers,  and  in  the  common  lectures  of  the 
day,  very  much  calculated  to  lead  away  from  the  mortifying  power 
of  the  cross  of  Christ,  Under  a  conviction  of  religious  duty,  I  was 
often  bound  to  speak  of  these  things  in  our  religious  meetings, 
warning  our  dear  Friends  to  be  well  guarded  against  them,  and 
exhorting  them  to  retire  from  them,  and  settle  down  in  their  own 
minds  and  move  forth  on  all  occasions  in  the  wisdom  of  truth, 
abiding  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  which  is  a  strong  tower:  the 
righteous  run  into  it  and  are  safe. 

In  the  First  month,  in  the  year  of  1843,  with  the  unity  of  our 
Monthly  Meeting,  and  in  company  with  a  respectable  Friend,  I  per- 
formed a  very  interesting  religious  visit  to  Friends  and  others  in 
the  city  of  Cincinnati.  In  the  prosecution  of  this  concern  I  held 
several  meetings  for  divine  worship  to  mutual  satisfaction.  The 
Lord  was  with  me  and  eminently  opened  mv  understanding  in  the 
great  doctrine  of  Christian  redemption. 

In  the  fore  jDart  of  the  Tliird  month,  this  year.  1843.  I  attended 
the  service  of  a  called  Meeting  for  Sufferings  at  Whitewater,  in  the 
State  of  Indiana,  on  a  very  jiainful  occasion.  Fifty  appointed  mem- 
bers attended  this  meeting  w'ith  feelings  of  great  solemnity  and 
humility,  being  united  in  the  unity  of  the  spirit,  in  the  bond  of 
peace.  In  the  progress  of  the  workings  of  a  spirit  of  human  activity, 
self  confidence  and  insubordination,  which  has  been  api^arent 
among  a  portion  of  the  members  of  our  Yearly  Meeting  for  some 
time  past,  another  separation  from  our  Religious  Society  has  been 
effected  and  a  new  and  independent  association  has  been  organized 
bearing  the  title  of  "Indiana  Yearly  Meeting  of  Anti  slavery 
Friends."  This  separation  took  place  at  Newport,  Indiana,  on  the 
7th  of  last  month,  and  this  was  the  cause  of  our  being  called 
together  at  this  time.  We  were  favored  to  issue  suitable  epistles  to 
all  the  Meetings  for  Sufferings  of  Friends  on  this  painful  occasion, 
as  also  to  send  down  to  the  meetings  and  members  of  our  own 
Yearly  Meetings  a  weighty  address  for  the  clearing  of  truth  on 
account  of  reproachful  charges,  falsely  preferred  against  the  char- 
acter of  our  Yearly  Meeting,  and  some  of  its  subordinate  branches, 
and  some  individuals  filling  acceptable  stations  in  Society,  as  it 
appears  to  be  a  very  prominent  object  with  this  separation  to  sow 
the  seed  of  disunity  and  discord  among  Friends;  and  in  order  to 
effect  this,  the  character  of    our  Society  and  that  of  individual 

10 


146  JOURNAL    OF    THOMAS    ARXETT.  1345 

Friends  standing  prominent  for  the  cause  of  truth  is  shamefully 
misre})resented  before  the  public  and  widely  circulated  in  some  of 
the  pernicious  anti-slavery  newspapers. 

In  these  misrepresentations  my  name  stands  the  most  prominent 
before  the  public,  and  the  following  circumstance  is  one  of  the 
greatest  trials  that  I  ever  met  with  from  the  ingratitude  of  false 
brethren.  A  member  of  my  own  particular  meeting  who  lives  near 
me,  who  has  stood  in  the  station  of  an  elder,  as  also  filling  some 
other  stations  in  Society  for  several  years  past,  he  and  his  family 
always  manifesting  the  warmest  friendship  for  me  till  this  separa- 
tion took  place,  and  then  in  consequence  of  nourishing  a  spirit  of 
bitterness  through  the  over  active  zeal  of  the  Anti-slavery  Society, 
openly  turned  against  me,  because  I  was  bound  to  stand  forth  alone 
for  the  testimony  of  the  blessed  truth,  as  it  is  in  Christ,  the  hope 
of  glory. 

They  repeatedly  questioned  me  in  relation  to  the  proceedings  of 
our  last  Yearly  Meeting  of  the  intention  of  some  of  the  acts  thereof, 
in  order  to  take  some  advantage  of  my  answers  for  the  injury  of  my 
character  and  standing,  and  I  was  very  careful  on  all  occasions  to 
give  them  correct  answers  in  the  spirit  of  truth,  with  a  sincere 
desire  for  their  preservation  on  every  hand;  at  length,  when  they 
thought  that  they  had  heard  me  say  enough  on  the  subject,  they 
manufactured  out  of  my  conversation,  a  misrepresentation,  and  in 
the  first  place  they  verbally  spread  a  reproachful  report  on  me,  and 
finding  that  it  would  not  raise  much  difficulty  among  Friends,  to 
keep  this  report  in  a  small  circle,  they  therefore  at  length  personally 
with  my  name  and  theii'  own  names  came  out  against  me  with  this 
report  in  one  of  the  most  pernicious  anti-slavery  newspapers  in  our 
country,  which  has  a  wide  circulation. 

This  attack  on  my  character,  placed  me  in  a  very  critical  and 
tried  situation,  five  in  one  family,  of  some  standing,  all  our  mem- 
bers, in  open  violation  of  our  discipline,  tlius  standing  before  the 
public  against  me,  and  there  being  no  way  for  me  to  clear  myself  but 
to  give  in  my  testimony  before  Friends  against  them.  ]\fy  prayer 
was  sincerely  put  up  to  the  Lord  for  liis  sustaining  protection  in 
this  deep  and  sore  trial,  and  in  my  distress,  I  remembered  the  com- 
plaint of  David  the  king,  who  was  tried  in  a  similar  manner  in 
the  day  of  his  calamity,  when  he  said:  ''It  was  not  an  enemy 
that  reproached  me,  then  could  I  have  borne  it;  neither  was  it 
he  that  iiated  me  tiiat  did  magnify  himself  against  me,  then  I 
would  have  hid  myself  from  him;  but  it  was  thou,  a  man  niine 
ecpial,  my  guide  and  mine  acquaintance;  we  took  sweet  counsel 
together,  and  walked  unto  tlie  liouse  of  God  in  company."  While 
I  was  pondering  on  this  deeply  alfiicting  trial,  this  language  was 
often  reiterated  in  the  spirit  of  my  mind,  "Keep  thy  place  and 
there  sliall  not  a  hair  of  thy  head  be  hurt."  I  at  length  obtained 
several  interviews  before  suitable  Friends  on  this  painful  subject. 


18«  JOURXAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT,  147 

which  finally  eventuated  in  my  testimony  being  received  against 
them,  and  that  their  report  which  they  had  widely  circulated  on 
me,  was  a  misrepresentation  of  what  I  said  to  them;  so  that  the 
judgment  of  truth  was  placed  upon  them,  and  through  Divine 
mercy  and  interposition  I  was  favored  to  move  forth  in  this  singular 
and  sore  trial  to  the  satisfaction  of  my  dear  friends. 

Fourth  month  21st,  1843.  My  aged  mother-in-law,  who  has  made 
a  part  of  my  family  ever  since  I  settled  myself,  for  several  months 
past  has  not  been  able  to  go  out  of  her  room,  or  to  get  up  or  down 
without  help.  She,  on  this  morning,  without  help,  left  her  room 
and  walked  out  into  the  kitchen  and  sat  down  awhile,  and  then 
arose  and  returned  to  her  room.  In  the  afternoon  she  was  taken 
with  a  violent  chill  and  shaking,  which  terminated  in  a  high  fever. 
On  the  next  day  we  apprehended  that  her  end  was  near,  ^^'e  therefore 
sent  for  her  children  who  were  in  reach,  who  landed  in  time  to  see 
her  depart  this  life.  Through  the  course  of  this  day  she  appeared 
to  be  in  much  pain  and  misery,  and  towards  evening  her  fever  in 
some  degree  left  her.  On  the  23rd,  being  the  First-day  of  the 
week,  we  saw  plainly  that  she  was  going,  which  caused  this  day  to 
be  a  very  solemn  time  with  us.  She  continued  to  gradually  pass 
away  till  about  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  she  breathed  her 
last,  and  on  the  next  day,  in  the  afternoon,  she  was  solemnly  and 
decently  buried  in  our  graveyard  at  Newhope  before  a  large  congre- 
gation of  peojde. 

I  observed  for  some  time  before  her  departure  that  she  was  in  a 
good  degree  calm  and  quiet  in  her  mind,  and  appeared  to  be  re- 
signed to  the  divine  will,  for  which  favor  we  were  tliankful,  appre- 
hending that  she  is  gone  to  the  good  and  everlasting  home.  Her 
age  was  eighty-two  years,  six  months  and  twenty  days,  and  she 
lived  with  me  about  seventeen'years  and  fourmontlis,  during  which 
time  I  was  favored  to  put  my  trust  and  confidence,  in  all  the  trials 
that  came  upon  me,  in  that  worthy  and  holy  Being  who  causes  all 
things  to  work  together  for  good  to  them  who  serve  him  with  their 
whole  heart. 

After  this  for  some  time,  many  deep  trials  both  within  and  without, 
came  upon  me  :  it  appeared  to  me  that  Satan  was  permitted  to  try  my 
innocency,  integrity  and  sincerity  to  the  very  utmost.  Within,  temp- 
tations assailed  me  of  a  very  striking  nature;  and  without,  those  who 
had  recently  seceded  from  our  religious  society,  published  and 
widely  circulated  many  false  and  reproachful  reports  on  me  for  the 
injury  of  my  religious  character  and  standing,  so  that  it  became 
my  duty  to  lie  low  and  dwell  deep  in  the  spirit  of  my  mind,  trust- 
ing alone  in  the  obedience  of  faith  in  Him  who  gave  Himself  for 
me,  and  in  the  day  of  darkness  and  sore  conflict,  my  spirit  acknowl- 
edged, "  Behold  I  go  forward,  but  He  is  not  there  ;  and  backward, 
but  I  cannot  perceive  Him  :  but  He  knoweth  the  way  that  I  take. 
When  He  hath  tried  me  I  shall  come  forth  as  gold,"  and  by  keep- 


148  JOUENAL    OF   THOMAS    ARXETT.  1844 

ing  tlie  word  of  his  patience,  all  these  trials  were  sanctified  to 
the  glory  of  His  worthy  name  and  to  my  deepening  in  faith  and 
doctrine. 

My  mind  having  been  impressed  with  a  concern  to  pay  a  religious 
visit  to  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends  in  the  State  of  Indiana, 
and  to  appoint  some  meeting  for  divine  worship  for  Friends  and 
others  in  those  parts,  I  seasonably  opened  this  concern  to  our 
Monthly  Meeting,  and  received  the  full  unity  and  sympathy  of 
Friends"  tliereof,  who  desired  my  encouragement  in  the  prosecution 
of  this  concern.  My  dear  friena,  Samuel  Compton,  Sr.,  of  Ciesar's 
Creek  Monthly  Meeting,  found  himself  religiously  engaged  to  ac- 
company me  on  this  journey,  which  concern  Friends  approved  of 
and  encouraged  him  to  attend  to  it  according  to  the  pointing  of 
truth.  We  set  out  in  the  prosecution  of  this  service  on  the  Tenth 
day  of  the  Fourth  month,  1844,  parting  with  our  families  with 
tears  and  supplication,  commending  them  to  the  protection  of  that 
worthy  Being  who  had  called  us  forth  into  this  work,  and  were 
favored  to  land  in  the  State  of  Indiana  in  time  to  attend  the  service 
of  West  Grove  Monthly  Meeting,  held  at  Fairfield  on  the  13th, 
where  I  found  some  good  service  for  the  Lord,  and  on  the  next  day, 
being  First-day,  we  had  a  good  and  open  meeting  at  West  Grove, 
and  in  the  evening  we  held  a  large  and  highly  favored  meeting  at 
Centreville  amongst  Methodists  and  others.  Tlie  jieople  after 
meeting  were  very  tender  and  affectionate  towards  us.  On  the  loth 
we  traveled  to  the  town  of  Rays vi He,  and  on  the  next  day  we  had  a 
good  and  favored  meeting  there  for  Friends  and  others,  and  in  the 
evening  we  held  a  good  meeting  in  Kiiightstown  for  Friends, 
Methodists  and  others. 

The  17th  we  traveled  upwards  of  forty  miles  to  the  house  of  our 
dear  friend  Samuel  Spray,  who  was  very  thankful  to  meet  with  us, 
and  on  the  next  day  we  attended  Fairfield  Monthly  Meeting,  which 
was  large  and  much  owned  by  the  Good  Shepherd.  Friends  were 
glad  to  see  us,  and  desired  our  encouragement.  On  the  10th  we 
held  good  meetings  for  divine  worsliip  at  Fairfield  and  at  Easton, 
where  we  were  united  with  Friends  in  the  great  duty  of  s]uritual  wor- 
ship, the  power  of  truth  being  present.  On  the  '-iOth  we  had  a  good 
meeting  at  Lick  Branch;  the  Lord  was  with  us,  aad  pointed  out  the 
way  to  eternal  happiness  :  some  were  reached  and  mucli  broken  in- 
to tenderness.     Praised  forever  be  the  great  and  holy  name! 

The  21st.  being  First-day,  we  spent  in  the  city  of  Indianapolis,  and 
held  a  meeting  at  11  o'clock,  at  a  school-house,  for  the  few  Friends 
who  live  there,  and  a  number  of  others  attended  who  were  friendly 
to  our  Society,  and  through  Divine  mercy  this  was  made  a  Heavenly 
season.  In  the  afternoon  at  four  o'clock,  we  held  a  public,  large 
meeting  for  the  citizens  of  this  city  in  the  IMetliodist  meeting-house. 
The  people  were  still,  and  paid  Cliristian  attention,  among  whom 
was  opened  the  doctrine  of  Christianity.     The  meeting  closed  with 


18-14  JOURNAL    OF    THOMAS    AKNETT.  149 

prayer  and  supplication.  On  the  :22nd  we  rode  about  twenty-i3ve 
miles  to  Friends'  settlement  of  West  Union,  where  on  the  next  day 
we  held  a  large  and  deeply  interesting  meeting.  The  power  of  an 
endless  life  was  overall,  many  tender  souls  were  melted  down  into 
deep  humility,  and  the  great  name  was  exalted  and  praised.  The 
meeting  ended  to  good  satisfaction. 

The  24:th  we  rode  about  fifty  miles  to  the  neighborhood  of  Sand 
Creek,  Avhere,  on  the  next  day,  we  attended  Friends'  mid-week 
meeting  for  worsliiiJ,  which,  though  it  was  small,  yet  was  made  a 
good  season.  On  the  20tli  commenced  the  service  of  Blue  River 
Quarterly  Meeting  at  this  place,  which  closed  its  session  on  the 
28th,  including  the  meeting  for  discipline  and  public  worship. 
Through  the  services  of  this  meeting  I  was  much  opened  in  the 
love  of  the  gospel  into  the  states  and  conditions  of  the  people,  to 
the  satisfaction  of  my  dear  Friends,  who  were  very  glad  to  see  me. 
Praised  forever  be  the  name  of  the  Lord  !  The  29th  we  had  a 
good,  open  meeting  at  Driftwood  for  Friends  and  others  ;  and  on 
the  30th,  in  the  evening,  we  held  a  large  and  good  meeting  in  the 
town  of  Columbus,  in  the  Methodist  meeting-house.  The  people 
were  still  and  attentive,  and  some  appeared  to  be  reached  with  con- 
trition and  tenderness.  The  Good  She2)herd  was  present,  and  gave 
ability  to  praise  and  exalt  His  name. 

Fifth  month  1st.  We  traveled  this  day  about  forty  miles,  to  the 
home  of  our  dear  and  kind  Friend,  Joel  Dixon,  of  White  Lick, 
and  on  the  next  day  we  held  a  pretty  good  meeting  at  Bethel, 
where  w^e  found  some  well-concerned  Friends.  On  the  3rd  we  had 
a  good  and  favored  meeting  at  Sugar  Grove.  The  Lord's  great 
power  Avas  present,  under  which  many  minds  were  deeply  humbled 
in  gratitude  and  tenderness,  so  that  his  name  was  exalted  and  glo- 
rified. May  all  praise  be  given  to  Him  now  and  forever,  for  he  is 
worthy! 

After  this  we  went  on  to  the  neighborhood  of  Friends  of  Mill 
Creek,  where,  on  the  5th,  being  First-day,  we  attended  their  meet- 
ing and  had  a  good,  open  time  among  them,  and  in  the  afternoon 
we  held  a  meeting  for  divine  worship  in  the  town  of  Danville,  in 
the  Methodist  meeting-house,  which  was  rather  a  proving  time. 
Truth,  at  length,  however,  bore  some  sway,  so  the  meeting  ended 
pretty  well ;  and  on  the  Gth  we  held  a  precious  and  good  meeting 
for  Friends  and  others  at  Spring  Meeting,  so-called.  The  Lord 
was  with  us  and  gave  us  strength  to  glorify  and  exalt  His  great  and 
worthy  name. 

The  7tli  we  rode  about  forty  miles  to  Friends'  neighborhood  of 
Bloomfield,  where,  on  the  next  day,  we  attended  their  Monthly 
Meeting,  which  was  large,  and,  through  divine  mercy,  was  a 
refreshing  season  ;  and  on  the  9th  we  held  a  meeting  at  Annai)olis, 
where  we  met  with  many  respectable  people,  among  whom  we  were 
favored  to  feel  the  Divine  presence,  to  the  humility  of  many  minds. 
Praised  be  the  o-reat  name  ! 


loO  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    AKNf:TT.  1844 

On  the  10th  and  11th  we  attended  the  service  of  the  AVestern 
Quarterly  Meeting,  hold  at  Bloomfield,  which  was,  through  adora- 
ble mercy,  made  a  season  of  divine  refreshment.  My  mind  was 
much  opened  in  gospel  ministry  to  good  satisfaction  ;  there  ap- 
peared to  be  much  weight  with  Friends  in  transacting  this  business. 
This  was  a  good  meeting  and  ended  well,  and  on  the  12th,  being 
First-day,  after  attending  the  meeting  for  worship  at  Bloomfield, 
which  was  a  good  meeting  to  many,  we  held  a  very  large  and  highly 
favored  meeting  at  Rockville,  in  the  Presbyterian  meeting-house, 
Avhere  the  doctrine  of  truth  went  forth  in  demonstration  of  the 
spirits,  and  with  power. 

The  loth  we  had  a  precious  and  heavenly  meeting  at  Eocky  Run, 
where  I  was  much  opened  to  travail  with  the  pure  seed  ;  the  sincere 
Avere  much  encouraged,  and  the  negligent  were  warned  of  the  dan- 
gers to  come  without  repentance  ;  and  on  the  next  day  we  had  a 
meeting  at  Poplar  Grove,  where  I  was  mucli  opened  to  point  out 
the  way  of  conversion,  regeneration  and  holiness,  to  the  reaching 
of  many  who  had  lived  in  sin  and  transgression,  the  melting  power 
of  truth  was  present,  and  caused  many  to  fear  and  treml)le,  and  to 
desire  purity  of  heart.  Praised  forever  be  the  gi'eat  and  everlast- 
ing name,  who  is  worthy! 

The  15th  and  IGth  we  again  returned  to  the  home  of  our  dear 
Friend,  Joel  Dixon,  in  order  to  attend  the  service  of  AVhite  Lick 
Quarterly  Meeting,  which  commenced  on  the  17th,  with  the  Meet- 
ing of  Ministers  and  Elders,  where  the  Lord  gave  me  some  good 
service,  and  on  the  18th  came  the  meeting  for  worship  and  disci- 
pline, which  was  very  large  and  much  owned  by  the  Great  Head  of 
the  church.  My  mouth  was  opened,  and  my  heart  was  enlarged  in 
gospel  love.  Friends  were  much  favored  to  feel  together  in  tlie 
unity  of  the  spirit,  in  the  bond  of  peace.  On  the  19th,  being- 
First-day,  although  it  was  a  rainy  day,  yet  the  public  meeting  for 
divine  worship  was  very  large,  in  which  I  Avas  opened  to  very  hum- 
ble admiration  in  many  jioints  of  Christian  doctrine.  In  the  after- 
noon, at  4  o'clock,  Ave  held  a  heavenly  and  open  meeting  for  the 
youtli  ;  the  Avay  of  life  and  salvation  avms  pointed  out,  and  many 
Avere  reached  and  broken  doAvn  in  tears  and  groat  tenderness. 
Blessed  forever  be  the  worthy  name  I 

The  20th  and  21st  we  traA^eled  through  the  raiu  and  on  a  very 
rough,  muddy  road,  to  Avithin  the  limits  of  Spiceland  Monthly 
Mc^eting,  Avhich  Ave  attended  on  the  22nd,  and  found  a  large  num- 
ber of  worthy,  res])ectable  Friends,  among  Avhom,  after  sitting 
some  time  in  silence,  under  decj)  exercise,  these  Avords  sprang  up 
in  my  mind  :  "  Cast  thy  burden  upon  the  Lord,  and  He  shall  sus- 
tain thee  ;  He  shall  never  sutfer  the  righteous  to  be  moved,'"  Avhen 
I  stood  forth,  in  i)ul)lic  testimony,  in  a  baptizing  manner,  to  the 
encouragement  and  edification  of  many.  May  all  praise  be  forever 
given  to  the  everlasting  name,  Avho  is  forever  Avorthy! 


1844  JOUKXAL    OF    THOMAS    ARNETT.  151 

On  the  23i-d  we  rode  about  forty  miles  over  a  very  bad,  difficult 
road  to  travel ;  attended  Flatrock  mid-week  meeting,  as  it  came  in 
course  on  the  way,  and  in  the  evening  we  were  favored  to  land  at 
the  house  of  my  dear  brotlier,  Jesse  Arnett,  who  is  an  approved 
and  acceptable  minister  in  our  religious  Society,  and  on  the  24th 
commenced  the  service  of  Newgarden  Quarterly  Meeting,  which 
ended  on  the  26th,  in  the  evening,  with  a  Youth's  Meeting,  where 
we  met  with  several  other  Friends,  who  were  out  engaged  in  the 
work  of  the  ministry,  and  wc  all,  with  a  united  voice,  harmoniously 
labored  together,  through  the  various  sittings  of  this  meeting  ;  it 
api^eared  that  the  fountain  of  life  and  salvation  was  opened  to  the 
consolation  and  strength  of  the  poor  in  spirit,  so  that  this  was  a 
good  and  precious  meeting,  and  closed  with  gratitude  and  thanks- 
giving. 

After  this  we  held  Meetings  for  Divine  worship  for  Friends  and 
others,  in  company  with  some  other  ministering  Friends  who  were 
also  out  on  religious  visits,  viz.,  at  Arba  in  the  forenoon  and  at 
Lynn  in  the  afternoon  on  the  2Tth,  at  Cherry  Grove  on  the  28th, 
and  at  Dover  in  the  forenoon  and  at  Chester  in  the  afternoon  on 
the  29th.  In  all  these  Meetings  the  Lord  was  mercifully  with  us, 
and  granted  us  strength,  ability  and  utterance  to  the  glory  of  his 
worthy  name,  and  to  the  peace  of  our  own  minds  ;  many  points  of 
Christian  doctrine  were  opened  to  our  humble  admiration,  and  to 
the  comfort  and  edification  of  the  faithful  ;  and  sinners  were 
called  to  rejientance  and  warned  of  the  danger  of  delay,  and  many 
of  them  woi*e  reached  and  broken  down  into  tears  and  great  tender- 
ness, praised  for  ever  be  the  holy  name  I 

On  the  oOth  and  31st  came  the  service  of  our  Meeting  for  Suffer- 
ings, and  also  White  Water  Quarterly  Meeting  of  ministers  and 
elders,  which  we  attended  to  good  satisfaction,  being  favored  to 
conduct  the  concerns  that  came  before  us  in  that  love  wdiich  gives 
ability  to  labor  successfully  in  the  Church  of  Christ,  to  whom  be 
given  praise  and  glory,  now  and  for  ever  I 

Sixth  mo.  1st,  Came  on  the  service  of  White  Water  Quarterly 
]\[eeting  for  worship  and  discipline  ;  the  Meeting  for  worship  was 
a  good  refreshing  season,  several  testimonies  were  delivered  in  the 
authority  of  truth  ;  but  the  Meeting  for  discipline,  for  want  of 
Friends  minding  the  pointing  of  truth,  was  a  time  of  much  suffer- 
ing. I  mourned  in  my  mind,  in  this  Meeting,  because  of  the  want 
of  depth,  in  some  instances,  with  some  who  stand  high  in  the 
Church,  yet  who  have  never  gone  down  into  suffering,  so  as  to 
attain  to  the  experience  of  perfection. 

The  2nd,  being  First-day,  and  a  time  to  be  remembered  by  many, 
we  attended  White  Water  "Meeting  for  worship,  which  Avas  illumi- 
nated by  the  light  of  the  glory  of  the  gospel  of  Christ ;  spiritual 
worship  was  performed  in  that  true  humility  which  truth  inspired, 
so  that  Friends  were  united  and  mutually  edified  to  the  renewal  of 


152  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKNETT.  1844 

religious  strength  and  help  in  the  great  and  worthy  name.  In  the 
afternoon,  at  4  o'clock,  Ave  held  a  deeply  interesting  Meeting  for 
the  youth  and  others,  particularly  for  the  citizens  of  Eichmond, 
which  Avas  Avell  attended  Ijy  all  for  Avhom  it  was  appointed,  and  the 
doctrine  of  truth  Avas  spread  forth  o\xr  this  Meeting  in  that  demon- 
stration and  poAver  which  reached  to  the  good  in  many  and  chained 
the  evil  down  ;  the  divine  hand  Avas  over  all,  and  victory  was  ob- 
tained to  the  glory  of  the  great  name. 

The  3rd.  We  "had  a  Meeting  at  Milford  in  the  forenoon,  and 
one  at  Bethel  in  the  afternoon,  and  through  holy  help  these  Meet- 
ings Avere  made  tendering,  melting  and  refreshing  seasons  ;  and  on 
the  4th,  Ave  had  a  good  and  precious  Meeting  at  Hopewell,  Avhere  I 
was  much  set  at  liberty  ;  doctrine  flowed  freely,  and  the  great  and 
holy  name  Avas  exalted  over  all.  In  the  afternoon  we  had  another 
Meeting  at  Kicli  Square,  Avhich  Avas  also  a  pretty  good  open  time. 
The  5th  Ave  attended  the  mid-Aveek  Meeting  of  Friends  at  Eagsville, 
as  it  came  in  course,  and  on  the  6th  Ave  held  a  good  Meeting  at 
Eushville,  in  the  Baptist  Meeting  House.  I  Avas  humbled  in  this 
Meeting  in  that  true  love  Avhich  inspires  with  gratitude  to  God 
and  love  to  man,  in  Avhich  I  Avas  mercifully  opened  in  the  doctrine 
of  life  and  salvation.  Tiie  people  Avere  attentive,  and  appeared  to 
be  Avell  satisfied. 

On  the  7th  and  8th  came  the  service  of  Spiceland  Quarterly 
Meeting,  held  at  Walnut  Eidge,  Avhere  Ave  met  with  many  Friends, 
this  being  a  large  Qnavterhi  Meeting.  In  the  select  Meeting  I  Avas 
mostly  silent,  but  in  the  Meeting  for  Avorship  and  discipline  I  found 
much  good  service  for  the  Lord,"being  opened  in  faith  and  doctrine 
to  my  humble  admiration,  and  I  believe  to  the  coQifort  and  edifi- 
cation of  many  dear  friends  who  Avere  united  together  Avith  afeivent 
concern  for  the  prosperity  of  8ion,  and  the  tranquility  of  our  be- 
loved country  on  every  hand,  feeling  the  present  age  of  the  Avorld 
to  be  vcj-y  important  to  many. 

The  9th,  being  First-day,  the  meeting  for  Divine  Avorship  was 
very  large,  and  eminently  owned  with  the  over-shadoAving  of 
Ancient  Goodness.  I  was  able  to  bring  to  view  and  sustain  many 
points  of  Christian  doctrine  to  good  satisfaction.  This  meeting 
closed  Avith  reverent  thanksgiving  to  the  good  .Shepherd  of  Israel 
for  all  his  mercies  and  blessings  bestowed  upon  us. 

There  being  a  settlement  of  colored  jieople  in  these  parts,  Ave  felt 
the  love  of  truth  towards  them,  so  that  Avay  opened  for  us  to  hold 
a  meetitig  for  Divine  Avorsliip  among  them  this  afternoon,  Avhich 
Avas  Avell  attended  by  them,  and  through  Divine  mercy  Avas  made  a 
good  refreshing  season  to  them  and  to  us,  for  Avhich  they  appealed 
to  be  very  thankful  to  the  good  Shepherd. 

The  10th.  We  had  a  meeting  in  the  forenoon  at  Elm  Grove, 
and  one  in  the  afternoon  at  Duck  Creek.  In  these  meetings  the 
Lord  Avas  Avith  us,  and  granted  strength  and  utterance  to  the  glory 


18-14  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  153 

of  his  name,  and  to  the  edification  and  comfort  of  his  devoted 
servants. 

The  lltli.  Wo  this  morning  at  10  o'clock  lield  a  large  and  in- 
teresting Meeting  at  Olear  Spring,  where  the  doctrine  of  the  offer 
of  universal  salvation  was  sustained,  according  to  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, as  also  flutt  of  eternal  future  rewards  and  punishments  ac- 
cording to  the  deeds  done  in  the  body.  Many  were  reached  and 
humbled  in  tenderness.  In  the  evening  Ave  held  a  pretty  good, 
open  meeting  at  the  village  of  Middletown.  The  people  were  veiy 
still  and  quiet,  and  appeared  to  receive  witli  thankfulness  the  doc- 
trine delivered. 

The  12th  we  traveled  about  thirty  miles  over  a  very  bad,  rough 
road,  held  a  pretty  good,  open  meeting  at  Summerton,  and  were 
favored  in  the  evening  to  land  in  Friends'  settlement  of  Back 
Creek,  where,  on  the  next  day,  we  attended  their  Monthly  Meeting, 
and  found  a  good,  open  time  among  them  to  satisfaction. 

The  service  of  the  Northern  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends  came 
on  at  this  place  on  the  14th  and  15th,  which  was  made,  through 
adorable  mercy,  a  heavenly,  refreshing  season,  my  mind  being 
much  opeued  into  the  states  of  the  jicople,  to  thankful  admiration 
and  humble  gratitude. 

The  IGth,  being  First-day,  we  attended  Friends  meeting  at  Back 
Creek,  and  found  much  good  service  in  the  ministry,  and  in  the 
evening  we  held  a  large  and  interesting  meeting  at  Marion,  in  the 
court  house,  where  I  was  much  opened  in  the  love  of  the  gospel, 
and  on  the  next  day,  in  the  forenoon,  we  had  a  meeting  at  Mississi- 
newa,  and  one  in  the  afternoon  at  Center,  both  of  which  were 
heavenly,  good  seasons. 

After  this  we  turned  our  faces  homeward,  and  held  some  meet- 
ings on  the  way  to  good  satisfaction,  where  we  arrived,  with  peace 
of  mind,  on  the  'l')t\\,  and  found  our  families  well.  We  were  pre- 
served together  in  this  service  in  the  unity  of  the  spirit,  in  the 
bond  of  peace,  and  were  out  from  home  about  two  months  and 
fifteen  days,  and  traveled,  by  comi)utation,  about  the  distance  of 
one  thousand  miles. 

After  I  returned  home  from  off  this  journey,  my  mind  soon  be- 
came impressed  with  a  concern  to  pay  a  jeligious  visit  as  far  as  way 
should  open  to  the  meetings  constituting  Fairfield  Center,  Miami, 
West  Branch,  and  Alum  Creek  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends,  and 
to  ai)point  some  Meetings  within  those  limits  for  those  not  in  mem- 
bership with  us,  and  also  to  appoint  a  few  ]\Ieetings  beyond  the 
limits  thereof  in  the  more  western  part  of  this  State  ;  I  cherished 
this  concern  in  the  spirit  of  my  mind  with  humility  and  resigna- 
tion, waiting  for  the  right  time  to  attend  to  it,  and  believing  at 
length  that  the  time  had  come,  I  therefore  opened  it  to  Friends  of 
our  Monthly  Meeting  on  the  15th  day  of  the  First  month,  1845, 
and  they  by  abiding  with  the  true  and  immortal  seed  of  life  and 


154  JOUKXAL    or    TJIO.MAS    ARNETT.  18*i 

consolation,  were  favored  to  enter  into  gospel  sympathy  and  unity 
with  me,  and  gave  me  much  encouragement  to  attend  to  it  according 
to  the  pointings  of  the  wisdom  of  trutli. 

I,  therefore,  with  suitable  company,  attended  to  the  opening  of 
this  concern  from  time  to  time  througli  the  course  of  the  present 
year.  In  the  prosecution  thereof  I  found  much  weighty  service  for 
the  Lord,  amongst  Friends  and  others  ;  many  of  the  Meetings 
which  were  held  on  this  occasion  were  large  and  favored  with  the 
jDresence  of  Him  who  sways  the  scepter  of  His  Majesty  over  the 
unnumbered  myriads  of  saints  and  angels  ;  under  whose  blessed  in- 
fluence and  guidance,  I  was  enabled  to  enter  into  gospel  sympathy 
with  the  poor  in  s^Dirit,  and  to  point  out  to  such  the  only  way  to 
eternal  happiness.  I  also  was  enabled  in  the  good  spirit  to  call  sin- 
ners to  repentance  ;  and  on  many  occasions,  while  engaged  in  this 
visit,  the  hearts  of  many  were  broken  and  melted  down  with  grati- 
tude and  deep  humility  before  Him  who  inhabits  eternity,  to 
whom  be  given  all  praise  both  now  and  forever, 

A  concern  having  for  sometime  past  rested  on  the  minds 
of  Friends  of  our  acting  Indian  Committee  to  send  out  a  deputa- 
tion to  pay  a  religious  visit  to  our  establishment  among  the  Shaw- 
nee Indians  west  of  the  Missouri,  and  also  as  far  as  way  should 
open,  to  visit  the  Indians  themselves  in  Christian  love,  and  I  feel- 
ing my  mind  turned  in  gospel  love  towards  this  service,  therefore, 
on  solid  consideration  it  resulted  in  appointing  me  to  go  in  com- 
pany with  my  dear  friend,  Joseph  Doan,  for  the  discharge  of  this 
important  concern  and  duty.  We  set  out  on  this  weighty  service 
on  the  26tli  day  of  the  3d  month,  184G,  and  arrived  at  our  station 
on  the  l(»th  day  of  the  following  month,  meeting  with  some  delay 
in  ascending  the  Missouri  Kiver  because  of  the  low  stage  of  the 
water ;  we  continued  in  those  parts  for  about  the  space  of  ten  days  ; 
which  gave  us  an  opportunity  of  becoming  acquainted  with  things 
tliere.  We  were  glad  of  the  privilege  of  sitting  witii  them  in  their 
meetings  for  worship,  and  to  witness  them  to  be  seasons  of  refresh- 
ment and  renewal  of  spiritual  strength.  A  number  of  Indians  at- 
tended and  sat  in  a  solid  manner,  and  the  deportment  of  the  child- 
ren therein  was  as  orderly  as  that  of  the  children  of  white  people 
in  general.  We  were  pleased  with  the  quiet  and  orderly  manner 
witli  Avhich  their  meals  were  conducted.  They  all  sit  down  at  once 
at  two  tables  large  enough  to  contain  about  fifty  persons  ;  a  pause 
is  observed  before  and  after  eating,  and  each  morning  a  suitable 
portion  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  is  read  to  them,  and  after  a  pause, 
the  children,  at  the  signal  of  the  Superintendent,  rise  and  depart 
from  the  tables  in  a  becoming  and  orderly  manner. 

We  visited  a  numl)er  of  the  Indians  in  their  own  houses,  and 
found  in  many  of  them  more  of  the  comforts  of  civilized  life  than 
we  ex})ected  to  find.  They  are  turning  their  attention  more  to  the 
cultivation  of  their  lands,  raising  stock,  and  building  more  com- 


1846  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  155 

lortable  dwellings.  Thus,  we  jierceivc,  tliiit  the  fruits  of  the 
arduous  labor  of  our  dear  Friends  amongst  them,  are,  under  the 
divine  blessing,  gradually  making  themselves  manifest  ;  yet  we 
were  made  deeply  sensible  that  murk  remains  to  be  done  in  order 
to  raise  them  out  of  that  low  and  degraded  condition  into  which 
they  are  plunged.  May  a  wise  providence,  whose  tender  mercies 
are  over  all  His  works,  bless  and  carry  on  the  work  of  reformation 
according  to  His  own  good  pleasure.  We  made  several  satisfactory 
visits  to  the  school,  which  sometimes  has  been  filled  to  the  number 
of  about  fifty  scholars  ;  the  progress  the  pupils  were  making  in  their 
literary  studies  was  very  encouraging  to  us.  Many  questions  on 
difi:erent  branches  were  put  to  them  by  the  teachers,  which  were 
readily  and  correctly  answered  for  the  most  part ;  their  exercises  in 
First-day  schools  were  satisfactory  ;  a  number  of  them  repeated  con- 
siderable portions  of  Scripture  with  having  had  but  little  time  to 
commit  the  same  to  memory. 

Wc  also  held  a  council  with  the  Indians  in  Friends'  school-room, 
several  chiefs,  with  a  considerable  number  of  other  Indians  at- 
tended. We  informed  them  that  our  Friends  in  Ohio  had  sent  us 
to  see  them,  and  our  Friends  who  reside  amongst  them  for  their 
encouragement,  and  our  advice  to  them  was  in  substance  as  follows: 
That  they  should  love  God,  the  Giver  of  every  blessing  ;  that  they 
should  encourage  their  people  to  attend  meetings  for  worship,  that 
Ave  should  be  glad  to  have  them  attend  our  meetings  at  any  time, 
that  we  wished  them  to  be  industrious,  to  cultivate  their  good  lands 
and  raise  plenty  of  grain  and  stock  of  horses,  cattle,  sheep,  and 
hogs,  and  also  to  build  themselves  comfortable  houses,  and  particu- 
larly to  encourage  J;he  education  of  their  children  and  young  peo- 
j)le,  as  well  as  learning  them  to  work,  and  that  they  should  per- 
suade their  young  people  not  to  drink  whisky,  or  other  strong 
drink,  which  was  so  injurious  to  them.  We  "told  them  that  we 
were  sorry  that  bad  white  men  were  continually  sending  them 
whisky,  and  that  it  was  our  desire  that  they  and  their  children  after 
them  might  continue  on  tlie  lands  which  they  now  possess  and  culti- 
vate them,  that  our  Government  might  have  no  pretext  for  remov- 
ing them  any  more. 

After  a  time  for  consultation  among  themselves,  they  sent  for  us 
and  through  their  chief,  Blackhoof,  replied  to  what  had  been  com- 
municated to  them  in  substance  as  follows  :  "  Our  brothers,  the 
Quakers,  we  are  glad  to  see  you  amongst  us  and  to  hear  your  good 
talk  ;  it  is  under  the  blessing  of  God  that  we  are  permitted  to  meet 
togerher  at  this  time.  Brothers,  our  hearts  have  been  made  sorry 
because  many  of  our  brethren  have  lately  died,  among  which  were 
some  of  our  chiefs  and  councilmen,  which  makes  our  hearts  very 
sad  at  this  time.  Brothers,  all  that  you  have  told  us  is  good,  and 
we  will  try  to  take  your  advice.  Our  friends,  the  Quakers,  have 
often  told  us  these  things  before  ;  they  told  them  to  some  of  us  and 


156  JOUKNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  I84« 

onr  forefathers  when  wo  lived  in  Ohio,  but  Indian  was  wild  man 
then,  very  wild,  and  made  but  little  progress  in  these  things  for  a 
long  time,  but  now  we  are  trying  to  do  better.  We  then  lived  in 
little  villages,  and  spent  our  time  in  talking  and  smoking,  but  now 
Ave  are  spread  over  the  country,  and  every  man  has  his  farm,  and  is 
trying  to  make  them  larger  every  year,  and  add  to  them  stock  of 
horses,  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs,  and  to  live  like  white  men,  but  some 
Indians  won't  work  much  yet.  We  will  talk  to  our  young  men, 
and  discourage  them  from  the  bad  practice  of  drinking  whisky, 
and  we  will  encourage  our  young  people  to  go  to  school,  and  learn 
to  read  and  work.  We  are  very  glad  to  see  our  Friend-Quakers 
among  us  at  this  time,  and  we  wish  them  to  give  our  love  to  all  our 
Friends,  the  Quakers  in  Ohio  and  Indiana  ;  that  is  all  we  have  to 

A  concern  having  impressed  my  mind  for  some  time  past  to  pay 
a  religious  visit  as  far  as  way  should  open,  to  the  Meetings  and 
families  of  Friends  constituting  Center  Quarterly  Meeting,  and  to 
appoint  some  Meetings  for  Friends  and  others  within  those  limits; 
after  passing  through  much  deep  exercise  in  relation  to  this  matter, 
I  opened  it  before  our  Monthly  Meeting  on  the  14th  day  of  tlie  10th 
month,  184G,  and  after  a  time  of  solid  deliberation  thereon,  Friends 
united  with  me  therein,  and  left  me  at  liberty  to  pursue  it  as. Divine 
Wisdom  should  open  the  way.  I  seasonably  entered  on  this  visit, 
with  a  sincere  desire  to  be  favored  under  the  pointings  of  truth, 
rightly  to  divide  the  word  of  truth,  and  continued  in  the  discharge 
of  this  weighty  duty  from  time  to  time  as  way  opened  'till  this  ded- 
ication of  Christian  duty  was  accomplished,  to  mutual  edification 
and  encouragement.  I  visited  about  the  number  of  two  hundred 
and  twenty  families,  and  held  a  number  of  Meetings  which  were 
large  and  much  crowned  with  the  overshadowing  of  Divine  Wis- 
dom, in  which  the  doctrine  of  Christian  redemption  was  sustained 
in  demonstration  of  the  truth,  and  with  power  according  to  the 
Holy  Scriptures. 

In  the  ]irosecution  of  this  weighty  engagement,  Friends  were 
careful  to  furnish  me  with  suitable  company  through  the  whole 
visit,  and  the  good  spirit  was  with  me,  under  the  influence  whereof 
my  mouth  was  opened,  and  my  heart  was  enlarged  in  that  love 
which  breathes  on'earth  peace,  and  good  will  towards  m«w,  in  which, 
in  going  from  house  to  house,  breaking  the  bread  of  life  and  salva- 
tion with  prayer  and  singleness  of  heart.  Friends  were  brouglit  to 
feel  very  near  and  dear  one  to  another  in  the  unity  of  the  spirit,  in 
the  bond  of  peace;  the  solemn  close  of  time  to  mati  was  often  very 
impressively  brought  to  view,  with  the  various  religious  duties  of  a 
Christian  life,  particularly  the  duty  of  daily  cherishing  in  the 
spirit  of  the  mind  devotional  exercises,  and  the  daily  reading  of  a 
suitable  i)ortion  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  with  our  families  collected 
for  that  purpose,  in  order  to  wait  on  Him,  in  true  devotion,  who  is  the 


1S46  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT,  157 

fiuthor  of  all  our  sure  mercies.  In  many  instances  the  good  seed 
was  reached,  in  the  hearts  of  many,  who  were  melted  down  into 
that  true  tenderness  and  contrition  of  s^jirit  which  alone  can  be 
witnessed  under  the  influence  of  Him  who  searcheth  the  hearts,  and 
knoweth  what  is  the  mind  of  the  spirit,  because  he  maketh  inter- 
cession for  the  saints  according  to  the  will  of  God. 

While  I  was  engaged  in  the  prosecution  of  this  visit,  I  was  very 
much  exposed  to  the  inclemency  of  the  weather,  the  winter  this 
season  being  very  changeable,  and  the  traveling  from  house  to 
house  in  many  instances  being  so  difficult  that  I  had  to  travel  very 
niuch  on  horse-back,  whereby  I  took  repeated  deep  cold,  which 
eventually  brought  on  me,  soon  after  I  had  passed  through  this 
service,  a  very  severe  attack  of  bodily  indisposition.  I  was  taken 
with  very  severe  chills  which  terminated  with  very  violent  liead- 
ache  and  high  fever.  I  was  confined  about  tlie  space  of  one  month, 
during  which  time  I  was  brought  low  in  body,  so  that  my  recovery 
was  doubted,  but  my  mind  was  centered  in  God,  the  eternal  sub- 
stance; medical  aid  was  believed  to  be  necessary,  which  through 
skillful  and  efficient  application,  had  the  desired  effect.  The  dis- 
ease very  much  settled  on  my  lungs,  and  a  fear  was  entertained  for 
awhile  that  it  would  terminate  in  a  very  serious  inflammation 
thereon,  but  through  divine  mercy  and  right  application  of  medi- 
cine, the  progress  of  the  disease  was  eventually  arrested. 

While  I  was  suffering  under  this  afflicting  dispensation,  my 
mind  was  replete  with  that  ^' peace"  "which  pcisseth  all  under- 
standing." I  remembered  with  deep  humility  the  sufferings  of 
the  dear  Son  of  God,  not  only  for  me,  but  i'or  all  mankind  in 
every  age  of  the  world;  being  made  renewedly  sensible  that  all 
my  sufferings  of  every  kind  are  not  worthy  to  bo  compared  with 
those  which  he  endured  for  me,  and  for  "the  sins  of  the  whole 
U'orld,"  in  the  day  of  his  poverty  and  humility. 

As  I  remembered  the  goodness  of  the  Lord  to  man,  and  meditat- 
ed on  his  mercy  to  him  "  in  the  night  watches,"  all  my  fellow 
beings,  in  Christian  love  were  brought  to  feel  near  and  dear  to  me, 
and  in  beholding,  in  degree,  the  extent  of  redeeming  love,  I  could 
but  deeply  deplore  the  accumulated  sins  and  iniquity  of  the  nations 
and  the  people  of  this  fallen  world. 

The  rulers  of  this  world,  who  impiously  wage  war  one  with 
another,  who  induce  their  subjects  to  go  into  battle,  and  fall 
therein,  who  exult  over  the  dying  groanings  of  their  enemies,  so- 
called,  gratifying  their  vain  ambition,  and  seeking  to  obtain  a  cor- 
ruptible crown,  were  brought  to  my  remembrance,  under  the  re- 
newed conviction  of  the  awful  sin  of  the  spirit  of  war,  being  made 
sensible  that  those  who  goto  war,  under  the  glorious  gospel  dispen- 
sation, cannot  feel  true  peace  of  mind  at  the  time  of  their  depart- 
ure, without  repentance  toward  God,  and  faith  toward  his  dear  and 
well  beloved  Son. 


158  JOUENAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  1847 

My  mind  was  turned  to  view  with  concern,  the  fearful  sin  of 
slavery,  I  deplored  the  condition  of  the  cruel  slave-holders,  who  will 
not  let  the  oppressed  go  free,  but  who  bind  their  burden  more  and 
more  heavy,  knowing  that  without  repentance  in  this  life,  they 
cannot  find  acceptance  in  the  great  and  general  day  of  judgment, 
"when  the  Lord  Jesus  shall  be  revealed  from  heaven  with  his 
mighty  angels,  in  flaming  fire,  taking  vengeance  on  them  that  know 
not  God,  and  that  obey  not  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ; 
who  shall  be  punished  with  everlasting  destruction  from  the  pres- 
ence of  the  Lord,  and  from  the  glory  of  his  power,  when  he  shall 
come  to  be  glorified  in  his  saints,  and  to  l^e  admired  in  all  them 
that  believe  in  that  day."' 

The  remembrance  of  those  who  spend  their  precious  time  in  the 
cause  of  intemperance,  vanity,  and  profaneness,  also  impressively 
came  before  me  with  much  tender  concern  and  Christian  solicitude 
for  their  conversion;  and  the  spirit  of  prayer  and  supplication  was 
renewed  in  me  for  them,  and  for  all  mankind,  under  a  sense  of  the 
weight  of  this  Scripture  testimony,  "  If  tlie  righteous  scarcely  be 
saved,  where  shall  the  ungodly  and  tlie  sinner  appearV  Knowing 
that  all  sinners  who  leave  this  world  in  sin  and  transgression  will 
receive  the  sentence  of  eternal  condemnation. 

The  spirit  which  conflicts  with  the  churches  of  Christ,  and  in  a 
number  of  instances,  separates,  scatters,  and  divides  among  them, 
was  renewedly  brought  to  my  view,  and  I  clearly  saw  in  the  true 
liglit  tluit  this  is  a  wrong  spirit,  and  that  the  judgment  of  truth  is 
over  and  above  this  opposing  and  restless  spirit. 

These  things  with  many  other  subjects  of  various  kinds,  very 
much  impressed  my  mind,  Avhile  under  this  afflicting  dispensation; 
I  felt  as  a  poor  worm  of  the  dust,  and  my  whole  de})cndence  for 
peace  of  mind,  and  for  everlasting  salvation,  was  alone  founded  on 
the  meritorious  suffering,  the  mercy,  and  the  righteousness  of  the 
dear  son  of  God,  the  blessed  Saviour  of  mankind  in  every  age  of 
the  world. 

The  minds  of  the  rulers  and  of  the  citizens  of  our  beloved  country 
in  this  day,  in  many  instances,  being  inflamed  with  the  spirit  of 
war,  and  many  of  the  professors  of  the  Christian  name  advocating 
therefor,  and  concentrating  their  strength  therewith ;  I  therefore 
became  deeply  concerned  as  way  opened,  and  as  opportunity  oft'er- 
ed  from  time  to  time  reneicedly,  to  stand  forth  for  tlie  defence,  and 
in  the  development  of  the  peaceal)le  nature  of  the  kingdom  of  the 
Prince  of  Peace,  and  in  the  exercise  of  this  concern,  the  good  si)irit 
was  with  me,  and  enabled  me  occasionally,  in  coming  in  contact 
witli  my  fellow  beings,  both  in  public  meeting  for  worship,  and 
also  on  other  occasions,  substantially  to  maintain  tliei3osition  that 
war  is  utterly  incompatible  with  the  s])irit  of  the  Christian  religion, 
and  tliat  it  was  understood  so"  to  be  by  the  primitive  Christians. 


1847  JOUKNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  159 

Those  who  lived  nearest  the  time  of  our  Saviour's  iicrsMial  ap- 
pearance, are  likely  to  be  correctly  informed  of  the  will  and  inten- 
tions of  the  founder  of  Christianity,  and  to  have  acted  conformably 
to  it,  without  those  corruptions  which  we  know  were  subsequently 
introduced.  During  a  long  period  after  the  death  of  Christ,  it  is  cer- 
tain that  His  followers  believed  war  to  have  been  entirely  forbidden 
by  Him.  Of  all  the  Christian  writers  of  the  second  century,  every  one 
who  in  any  way  notices  the  subject,  declares  it  to  be  unlawful  "for  a 
Christian  to  bear  arms.  Earnest -recommendations  of  forbearance, 
lenity  and  forgiveness  mix  with  all  the  writings  of  that  age.  There 
are  more  quotations  in  the  "  Apostolic  Fathers,"  of  texts  of  Scrip- 
ture which  relate  to  these  duties  than  of  any  other. 

But  they  not  only  declared  in  w^ords  that  it  was  unlawful  for  a 
Christian  to  fight,  they  enforced  it  by  example,  and  suffered  unto 
death  rather  than  violate  the  law  of  Christ. 

Is  there  anything  in  the  spirit  of  the  Gospel  that  would  sanction 
the  spirit  of  war  ?  Does  the  spirit  of  our  Divine  Redeemer,  who, 
when  enduring  the  bitter  agonies  of  the  cross,  breathed  for  his 
relentless  persecutors  the  dying  petition,  "  Father  forgive  them,  for 
they  know  not  what  they  do,"  sanction  the  anger,  the  revenge,  the 
cruelty  and  murder  which  reign  upon  the  battle-field  ?  Did  not 
He  whose  v/ord  is  the  law  of  Christians,  and  whom  we  look  to  as 
our  Saviour  and  our  Judge,  command  us,  "not  to  resist  evil,  but 
whosoever  shall  smite  thee  on  thy  right  cheek,  tui-nto  him  the  other 
also."  "  I  say  unto  you,  love  your  enemies,  bless  them  that  curse 
you,  do  good  "to  them  that  hate  you,  and  pray  for  them  which  de- 
spitefully  use  you  and  persecute  you,  that  ye  may  be  the  children 
of  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven." 

Forgiveness  of  injuries  is  one  of  the  fundamental  laws  of  Christ- 
ianity, and  we  are  solemnly  assured  by  Him  who  is  Truth  itself,  and 
cannot  lie,  that  if  we  from  our  hearts  do  not  forgive  those  who  tres- 
pass against  us,  neither  shall  we  be  forgiven  our  sins.  Can  we 
believe  for  a  moment  that  if  those  plain  and  positive  precepts  of 
Christ  were  observed  by  all  who  profess  his  name,  there  would  ever 
be  such  a  thing  as  war  ?  Could  we  fight  and  kill  our  fellow  men, 
who  have  never  injured  us,  when  we  are  commanded  even  to  love 
and  to  pray  for,  and  to  do  good  to  those  w'ho  were  enemies  to  us, 
and  to  forgive  them  who  had  injured  us?  Surely  not.  Xo  two  things 
would  be  more  directly  at  variance. 

It  is  true  that,  in  the  inscrutable  wisdom  of  His  providence,  the 
Almighty  was  at  times  pleased,  under  a  former  dispensation,  to  per- 
mit and  to  authorize  war  for  the  punishment  of  nations  for  their 
wickedness,  but  this  is  no  warrant  for  us  to  fight.  We  can  plead 
no  such  authority  ;  we  are  living  under  that  administration  of 
grace  and  truth  which  came  by  Jesus  Christ.  His  advent  upon 
earth  was  ushered  in  by  a  multitude  of  the  heavenly  hosts,  prais- 
ing God,  and  saying,  "Glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  and  on  earth 


160  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  IM7 

peace,  good  will  toward  men."  It  is  the  purpose  of  our  Heavenly 
Father  that  mankind  should  be  brought  under  the  power  of  His 
grace  and  of  this  truth.  As  this  becomes  the  case,  that  love  to  our 
native  land,  and  that  affection  to  our  countrymen,  which  are  nat- 
nral  to  us,  are  enlarged,  exalted  and  purified.  Fnder  the  sacred 
and  blessed  influence  of  the  love  of  Christ,  we  not  only  seek  to  live 
in  harmony  with  our  own  countrymen,  and  in  the  performance  of 
acts  of  brotherly  kindness  toward  them,  but  under  the  expansive 
230wer  of  the  same  heavenly  principle,  we  acknowledge  the  people 
of  every  nation,  of  every  color,  and  of  every  climate,  as  our 
brethren,  the  children  of  one  and  the  same  Almighty  Parent,  our 
Father  in  heaven.  Regarding  them  in  this  relation,  we  desire  to 
serve  them,  to  help  them,  and  to  do  them  good  ;  we  feel  that  to 
injure  or  to  destroy  them  is  to  violate  that  brotherhood  Avhich  God 
has  established  between  us,  is  to  trangress  that  holy  law  of  peace 
and  good  will  which  is  the  distinguishing  characteristic  of  the  do- 
minion of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ. 

My  mind,  with  the  concurrence  of  my  dear  wife,  having  been 
turned  for  sometime  past,  with  a  prospect  of  the  discharge  of  relig- 
ious duty  towards  removing  and  settling  within  the  limits  of  Miami 
Meeting  of  Friends,  under  an  impressive  apprehension  of  a  field  of 
labor  in  that,  as  well  as  in  Miami  Monthly  and  Quarterly  Meetings, 
consistent  with  the  opening  and  requiring  of  divine  wisdom.  This 
concern  appeared  to  us  to  be  a  very  weighty  matter,  and  one  that 
involved  much  responsibility,  and  was  the  cause  for  awhile  of  much 
deep,  conflicting  exercise  of  mind  to  us,  but  under  divers  considera- 
tions, and  of  different  kinds,  we  had  cause  to  believe  that  the  pros- 
pect came  upon  us  in  the  ordering  of  Him  who  numbers  even  the 
hairs  of  the  heads  of  His  faithful,  devoted  children,  who  bottles  up 
in  His  remembrance  all  their  sincere  tears,  and  who  directs  and 
leads  them  about  under  His  divine  providence  in  all  the  various  cir- 
cumstances of  this  life,  and  provides  for,  and  takes  care  of  them 
in  all  parts  of  the  world,  for  the  earth  is  His  and  the  fulness 
thereof. 

We  having  generally  carried  on  farming  since  we  settled  our- 
selves, and  in  the  management  thereof  much  care  and  cumber  often 
came  upon  us,  in  part,  in  consequence  of  having  no  family  of  our 
own  but  ourselves,  which  care  and  cumber,  in  consideration  of  our 
situation  in  life,  we  thought  that  it  would  be  right  in  degree  for  us 
to  be  released  from,  and  to  stand  more  devoted  to  the  opening  of 
the  discharge  of  religious  duty. 

We,  therefore,  with  the  advice  of  many  of  our  dear  Friends,  sold 
our  farm  and  made  ready  as  way  opened  from  time  to  time  for  our 
removal.  We,  on  the  i4th  day  of  the  4th  montii,  1847,  opened 
this  im]iortant  prosj)ect  before  Center  Monthly  Meeting,  which, 
after  a  time  of  solid  deliberation  and  Christian  sympathy,  Friends 
united  in  appointing  a  committee  to  prepare  a  suitable  certificate  of 


1847  JurUXAL    OF    THOMAS    AUXHTT.  101 

removal,  which  accordingly  was  prei)arcd  and  produced  to  the  next 
Monthly  Meeting,  and  was  united  with  ;  so  that  we,  meamuhile, 
removed  and  settled  consistent  with  our  prospect,  with  the  unitv 
and  Christian  symi)athy  of  our  dear  Friends,  and  became  members 
of  Miami  ]\lonthly  Meeting  of  Friends,  where,  m  the  opening  of 
truth,  I  soon  fonnd  much  good  service  in  the  ministry  of  tlie  Word 
to  the  i)raise  of  Him  who  "  openvtJi  and  no  man  .^^lixtfrfl/,  and  .shnf- 
tetJi  and  no  man  openelli." 

A  concern  having  impressed  my  mind  for  some  time  past  to  per- 
form a  religious  visit,  as  far  as  way  should  open,  to  tlie  Quarterly 
Meetings  of  Friends  constituting  our  Yearly  Meeting,  and  also,  in 
the  Oldening  of  truth  to  appoint  some  Meetings  for  divine  worsliip 
within  those  limits  for  Friends  and  others.  I  weighed  this  concern 
again  and  again  before  the  Lord  witli  feelings  of  much  humility  in 
the  obedience  of  faith  to  know  the  mind  of  truth,  and  at  length 
seeing  the  way  clear  to  move  therein,  I  opened  it  to  Friends  of  Mi- 
ami Monthly  Meeting  on  the  23d  of  the  Gth  month,  IS-tT.  While 
this  subject  was  before  tlie  meeting,  I  thought  that  a  precious  degree 
of  solemnity  pervaded  the  minds  of  Friends,  uniting  them  therein 
with  me  in  this  concern,  and  with  feelings  of  sympathy  and  unity 
much  encouragement  \vas  given  to  me  to  attend  to  it  in  the  open- 
ing of  Him  "whose  goings  forth  have  been  from  of  old,  from  ever- 
lasting." 

In  the  course  of  the  present  year,  I  occasionally  attended  to  the 
prosecution  of  this  concern  from  time  to  time,  as  way  opened, 
having  suitable  company  furnished  by  the  Montlily  Meeting 
throughout. 

In  visiting  the  Quarterly  Meetings,  under  this  concern,  Friends 
Avere  brought  to  feel  near  and  dear  to  me.  in  the  sympathy  of  that 
love  which  emanates  from  the  throne  of  grace,  and  calls  sons  and 
daughters  from  far  to  replenish  the  Church  of  Christ,  and  which 
alone  qualifies  for  the  discharge  of  every  religious  duty. 

I  was  much  opened  in  these  Quarterly  Meetings,  and  also  in  the 
appointed  Meetings  which  I  held  for  Friends  and  others  in  the  })rose- 
cution  of  this  visit,  in  the  love  and  power  of  the  everlasting  (los- 
pel,  and  in  many  instances  the  eternal  truth  reigned  overall,  to  the 
glory  of  the  name  of  tlie  Creator  of  the  world  and  all  things 
therein. 

In  attending  to  the  opening  of  this  concern,  I  traveled  in  the 
whole  by  computation  upwards  of  l,'-^50  miles,  and  attended  most 
of  the  Quarterly  Meetings  belonging  to  our  large  Yearly  Meeting  ; 
the  whole  visit  was  to  the  peace  of  my  mind,  praised  forever  be  the 
name  of  the  Lord! 

My  mind  having  been  impressed  with  a  concern  for  sometime 
past,  to  pay  a  religious  visit,  as  way  should  open,  to  the  Meetings 
and  families  of  Friends  belonging  to  Miami  Quarterly  Meeting,  and 
to  appoint  some  Meetings  for  divine  worship  in  those  parts  for 


163  JOURNAL    OF    THOMAS    AKNKTT.  1848 

Friends  and  others,  I  opened  this  concern  to  Friends  of  our 
IMonthly  Meeting,  on  the  3(ith  of  the  First  month,  1848,  and  after 
a  time  of  solid  deliberation  thereon,  Friends  nnitedwith  me  therein, 
and  gave  me  much  encouragement  to  attend  to  it  in  the  opening  of 
tlie  everlasting  truth. 

While  I  was  engaged  in  the  prosecution  of  this  visit,  Friends 
Avere  very  kind  and  careful  to  see  me  furnished  with  suitable  com- 
pany throughout  the  whole  concern. 

In  entering  on  this  visit,  for  awhile  I  felt  ])oor  in  spirit  and  was 
much  ca^^t  down,  but  by  abiding  with  the  true  seed,  truth  soon 
arose  and  opened  my  mouth  and  enlarged  my  heart,  so  that  I  found 
much  good  service  in  going  from  house  to  house,  praised  forever  be 
the  name  of  the  Lord! 

In  the  prosecution  of  this  concern  I  visited  about  two  hundred 
and  fifty  families,  and  held  a  number  of  meetings  for  divine  wor- 
ship for  Friends  and  others,  all  to  good  satisfaction. 

In  going  from  house  to  house  in  this  work,  the  Everlasting  Truth 
was  with  me  and  enabled  me  to  labor  to  the  peace  of  my  own  mind, 
and  I  trust  in  a  good  degree  to  the  edification  of  the  visited,  all  the 
praise  is  alone  due  to  the  Lord.  . 

1'lie  tender  in  heart  were  searched  and  encouraged  to  look  alone, 
in  the  obedience  of  faith  for  divine  instruction  to  the  great  High 
Priest,  the  Minister  of  the  Sanctuary,  and  of  the  true  tabernacle 
which  the  Lord  pitched,  and  not  man,  and  the  negligent  were  in- 
vited in  the  tenderest  love  ever  to  stand  ready  to  receive  the  offer 
and  saving  visitation  of  divine  mercy,  and  seek  to  serve  the  Lord 
wuth  a  perfect  heart  and  with  a  willing  mind. 

The  agjed  and  sincere  were  much  encouraged  to  hold  on  in  the 
good  old  way  marked  out  by  the  Holy  Prophets  and  Apostles,  so 
that  they  may  be  finally  recompensed  at  the  resurrection  of  the 
just. 

Parents  and  heads  of  families  were  encouraged  to  be  faithful  in 
the  duty  of  family  devotion,  and  to  instruct  their  children  in  the 
doctrine  of  Christianity  as  contained  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and 
the  beloved  youth  w^ere  very  particularly  remembered  and  earnestly 
encouraged  in  the  way  of  life  and  salvation  :  they  were  exhorted, 
ever  to  keep  a  single  eye  to  tlu^  everlasting  truth,  that  the  whole 
body  may  be  full  of  light. 

I  feel  a  desire  here  to  express  the  conviction  of  my  mind, — that  a 
Christian  family,  where  the  Almighty  Creator  is  duly  honored  and 
adored,  where  becoming  subordination  is  maintained  in  the  unity  of 
the  sjiirit.  in  the  bond  of  peace,  where  ihoti-ue  altar  is  erected,  and 
religious  sacrifice  daily  offered  up  thereon,  in  the  obedience  of 
faith,  where  divine  worshi])  and  devotional  exercises,  with  the  con- 
sistent reading  of  a  suitable  portion  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  are 
daily,  collectively  and  mutually  entered  into,  lender  din'ne  grace, 
— is  a  deei:»ly  interesting  spectacle.     I  believe  that  the  discharge 


1818  JOL'llNAL    OF    THOMAS    AKN^KTT.  163 

of  this  duty  is  as  indispensable  to  tlie  increase  of  tlie  knowledge  of 
God  as  it  is  to  attend  ri'fjiikirlii  all  our  Meetings  for  worship  and 
discipline.  The  exami)k'  of  faithful  Abraham,  in  constantly  erect- 
ing an  altar  wherever  he  settled,  is  worthy  of  our  serious  regard. 
He  well  knew  that  the  path  of  duty  wasalwiys  the  jmlh  of  safety, 
and  that  if  he  acknowledged  God  in  all  His  ways,  he  might  expect 
Him  to  direct  all  his  steps  ;  he  felt  his  dependence  on  God,  he  in- 
voked Him  through  a  mediator,  and  offered  sacrifices  \n  faith  of 
the  coming  Saviour,  he  found  blessedness  in  this  work,  it  was  not 
an  empty  service,  he  rejoiced  to  see  the  day  of  Christ,  he  saw  it  and 
was  glad.  He  was  called  the  friend  of  God,  who  delivered  this 
testimony  concerning  him  :  "I  know  him,  that  he  will  command 
his  children  and  his  household  after  him,  and  they  shall  keep  the 
way  of  the  Lord,  to  do  justice  and  judgment." 

I  believe  that  it  is  tne  religions  duty  of  all  our  dear  Friends 
everywhere,  to  follow  the  example  of  thnt  worthy  servant  of  God, 
the  Father  of  the  faithful,  in  commanding  our  children  and  our 
household  after  us,  and  I  apprehend,  that  under  the  discharge  of 
such  Christian  dnty,  that  a  blessing  would  descend  upon  us,  as  a 
religious  and  Christian  Society,  and  upon  our  children  from  genera- 
tion to  generation;  and  our  light  under  the  influence  of  the  ever- 
hasting  truth  would  shine  before  men,  and  our  Almighty  Father  in 
heaven  would  thereby  be  glorified,  and  we  would  be  preserved  on 
every  hand  to  the  honor  and  praise  of  His  worthy  name. 

In  these  days  the  mighty  hand  of  God  was  weightily  upon  me. 
0,  how  I  desired,  above  all  things,  to  be  perfectly  sanctified  through- 
out in  soul,  spirit  and  body,  that  I  may  be  renewed  up  into  the 
divine  image,  and  prepared  to  enjoy  God  in  time  and  in  eternity; 
so  as  to  be  worthy  at  the  appearing  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  to 
\\2i\'(i  part  in  the  glorious  resurrection  of  the  just  from  the  dead,  that 
I  may  reign  with  him  to  all  eternity,  to  wliom  alone  belongs  all  the 
praise  forever  I 

In  these  days  I  renewed  my  application  to  the  study  or  very  dili- 
gent reading  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  having  been  faithful  in  my 
daily  application  to  them  now  for  many  years  past,  and  I  believe 
that  it  was  the  everlasting  truth  that  called  me  to  this  faithful  ap- 
plication of  them,  and  the  more  that  I  read  them  the  more  I  love 
them.  0,  how  I  desire  to  be  more  and  more  instructed  in  the  doc- 
trine of  Christianity  as  contained  in  them,  under  the  blessed  influ- 
ence of  the  spirit  of  God  I 

The  apostle,  in  relation  to  the  use  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  to  man- 
kind, delivered  this  testimony  :  "  Whatsoever  things  were  Avritten 
afore  time  were  written  for  our  learning,  that  we,  through  patience 
and  comfort  of  the  Scriptures,  might  have  hope  ;"  that  is,  that  we, 
through  those  remarkable  examples  of  patience,  exhibited  by  the 
saints  and  followers  of  God,  whose  history  is  given  in  those  Scrip- 
tures, and  the  comfort  which  they  derived  from  God  in  their  patient 


164  JOL'KN^AL    OF   THOMAS    AKNETT.  1848 

sufferings  brought  upon  them  through  their  faithful  attachment  to 
truth  and  righteousness,  miglit  have  hope,  that  we  shall  be  upheld 
and  blessed  as  they  were,  and  our  sufferings  become  the  means  of 
our  greater  advances  in  faith  and  holiness,  and  conse((uently  our 
hope  of  eternal  glory  be  the  more  confirmed.  ''All  Scripture  is 
given  by  inspiration  of  God,  and  is  profitable  for  doctrine,  for  re- 
proof, for  correction,  for  instruction  in  righteousness,  that  the  Man 
of  God  may  be  perfect,  thoroughly  furnished  unto  all  good  works," 
being  able  to  make  wise  unto  salvation  through  faith  in  the  Lord 
and  kSaviour  Jesus  Christ. 

In  the  jjerusal  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  it  should  always  be  remeu)- 
bered  that  amidst  all  the  variety  of  information  and  instruction 
contained  in  them,  their  main  purpose  from  Genesis  to  Eevelations 
is  to  testify  of  tbe  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  The  words  of  the  Most  High, 
written  in  the  sacred  volume,  are  still  found  to  point  in  various 
ways  and  forms — by  the  shadows  of  the  law,  by  the  types  of  the  his- 
tory, by  the  predictions  of  the  prophets,  by  the  narrations  of  the 
evangelists,  by  the  doctrines  of  the  apostles,  and  by  the  figures  of 
the  ai)Ocalypse — to  him  who  is  the  Word.  They  reveal  and  portray 
Him  who  was  with  God  in  the  beginning,  and  who  was  God,  by 
whom  he  made  the  worlds,  who  was  incarnate  in  the  flesh,  died  for 
our  offences,  rose  again  for  our  justification,  ascended  upon  high, 
reigns  above  in  glory,  and  will  come  again  in  the  great  and  general 
day  of  judgment,  to  judge  the  quick  and  the  dead. 

I  believe  that  it  is  very  desirable  for  a  minister  of  thegos^iel  to  be 
a  person  of  the  soundest  understanding,  the  most  cultivated  mind, 
the  most  extensive  experience, — one  who  is  dee2)Iy  taught  of  God. 
and  has  deeply  studied  man  ;  one  who  has  prayed  much,  read  much 
and  studied  much  ;  one  who  takes  uj)  his  work  as  from  God,  does  it 
as  before  God,  and  refers  all  to  the  glory  of  God  :  one  who  abides 
under  the  inspiration  of  the  Almighty,  and  moves  in  the  discharge 
of  religious  duty,  in  divine  ability  ;  and  one  who  has  hidden  in  the 
heart  the  word  of  God,  the  spirit  of  grace,  so  as  to  be  preserved  on 
every  hand  to  the  glory  of  his  name.  The  school  of  Chrid,  and  that 
alone  can  ever  form  a  true  minister  of  the  everlasting  gospel. 

I  have  long  been  concerned  to  attain  to  a  perfect  understanding 
in  relation  to  the  things  which  belong  to  life  and  salvation,  that  I 
may  be  ready  in  the  Lord's  time  to  point  out  the  way  from  death  to 
life,  and  from  the  land  of  destruction  to  tlie  glorious  celestial  para- 
dise; for  the  worth  of  souls  immortal  lies  near  and  dear  to  my  heart, 
so  that  it  is  again  and  again  reiterated  in  the  si)irit  of  my  mind, 
that  woe  is  unto  me  excei)t  I  go  forth,  when  called  u])on,  to  ])reach 
the  glad  tidings  of  the  everlasting  gospel,  as  strength  and  wisdom 
may  be  given,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord. 

I  have  labored  much  in  the  love  of  the  gospel  of  peace  for  the 
good  of  precious,  immortal  souls,  and  there  is  no  exercise  in  which 
I  can  engage  that  gives  me  as  much  peace  of  mind  as  that  of  the 


A 


is^S  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKXETT.  165 

* 

exercise  and  the  labor  of  the  gospel  of  Christ.  The  weight  of  the 
call  to  preach  the  gospel  rests  upon  my  mind  both  day  and  night, 
and  I  know  that  there  is  an  awful  responsibility  attached  to  this 
call,  and  0,  therefore,  how  deeply  I  am  daily  concerned,  that  I  may 
ever  be  favored  and  preserved  in  the  right  prosecution  of  this  deep 
and  weighty  call,  that  I  may  ever  go  forth  therein  to  the  glory  of 
the  name  of  God. 

To  have  a  right  understanding  m  respect  to  the  doHrine  of  Chris- 
tian redemption,  has  ever  been  a  matter  of  deep  and  vital  importance 
to  me  ever  since  I  turned  my  face  Zionward;  and  in  the  pursnit  of 
the  knowledge  of  this  doctrine  I  can  say  that  I  count  all  things  but 
loss  for  the  excellency  of  the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus  my  Lord  ; 
and  0,  tliat  I  may  yet  more  and  more  be  instructed  in  the  school  of 
Christ  in  faith  and  doctrine,  that  I  maybe  strong  in  His  grace,  and 
ever  1)e  ready  to  endure,  to  tlie  glory  of  His  worthy  name,  wdiatso- 
ever  may  come  upon  me,  for  in  His  name  I  can  endure  all  things, 
and  without  Him  and  His  protecting  care,  I  should  utterly  fall  and 
become  a  castaway. 

In  these  days  I  devoted  much  of  my  time  to  religious  meditation, 
to  reading,  to  study,  and  to  devotional  exercises,  sometimes  being 
very  ]ieaceful  and  luminous  in  the  spirit  of  my  mind,  and  at  others 
being  brought  down  into  deep  mourning,  wherein  my  soul  suppli- 
cated in  this  language  :  "Save  me,  0  God,  for  the  waters  a,re  come 
in  unto  my  soul ;  I  sink  in  deep  mire,  where  there  is  no  standing ; 
I  am  come  into  deep  waters,  where  the  floods  ovei'flow  me." 

In  these  days  I  dwelt  much  alone,  under  deep  and  weighty  re- 
ligious exercise  of  mind,  meditating  in  the  law  of  my  God  both  day 
and  night;  and  renewed  my  application  to  the  great  duty  of  closet 
prayer  according  to  this  language  of  our  blessed  Savior,  "When 
thou  prayest  enter  into  thy  closet,  and  when  thou  hast  shut  thy  door 
pray  to  thy  Father  which  is  in  secret,  and  thy  Father  which  seeth 
in  secret  shall  reward  thee  openly."  Prayer  is  the  most  secret  in- 
tercourse of  the  soul  witl)  God,  and  as  it  were  the  conversation  of 
the  heart  with  Him  ;  the  infinite,  eternal  Spirit  Pi'ayer  requires  re- 
tirement, at  least  of  heart,  for  this  may  be  fitly  termed  tlu^  closet  in 
the  house  of  God,  which  house  the  body  of  every  true  and  sanctified 
saint  of  God  is  in  every  age  of  the  world. 

While  thus  engaged  in  the  spirit  of  my  mind  at  the  throne  of 
grace,  I  desired,  above  all  tilings,  ever  to  be  singly  and  watchfully 
devoted  to  the  paintings  of  the  everlasting  truth,  api)rehending  in 
the  opening  of  him  "  that  0})eneth,  and  no  man  shutteth,  and  shut- 
teth,  and  no  man  openeth."  Thrit  there  is  wnv  at  hand  a  large 
field  of  labor  before  me,  in  the  love  of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  which 
is  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation,  to  every  one  that  believeth  ; 
and  in  viewing  this  prospect,  the  language  of  my  heart  was  :  "Thy 
will  0  God,  in  all  things,  and  not  mine  be  done.  Amen  !"' 

A  concern,  witli  much  pressure  of  spirit,  has  impressed  my  mind 


1G6  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKNETT.  1848 

for  many  3'ears  past,  in  the  love  of  the  everlasting  gospel,  to  per- 
form a  religions  visit  to  Friends  and  others,  as  way  may  open,  in 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  and  to  stand  resigned  to  travel  in  Trnth^s 
service  on  the  continent  of  Europe.  In  the  repeated  opening  and 
renewing  of  this  weighty  concern,  in  the  spirit  of  my  mind,  from 
time  to  time,  I  was  induced  frequently  in  the  ohedience  of  faith,  to 
approach  the  throne  of  grace  and  pour  out  m}^  soul  in  prayer  and 
supplication  to  the  everlasting  God,  with  a  siiicere  desire  to  know 
his  will  in  regard  to  a  subject  of  so  great  and  responsible  magnitnde 
as  this  concern  appeared  to  me  to  be.  In  meditating  in  this  way 
on  this  great  matter  for  some  time,  trying,  as  it  were,  the  ^"fleece," 
both  wet  and  dry,  I  saw,  in  a  very  luminous  manner,  that  this  dedi- 
cation of  religious  duty,  as  faith  and  obedience  should  be  abode  in, 
would  be  required,  under  the  cross  of  Christ,  at  my  hand.  In 
viewing  this  large  field  of  labor,  in  connection  with  my  oivn  ina- 
bility for  the  discharge  of  such  arduous  engagement,  and  also  in 
connection  with  the  difhculties  in  many  instances  noio  existing  in 
our  religious  society,  the  excitement  in  the  church  in  general,  and 
the  commotion  in  the  civil  administration  of  the  affairs  of  the 
world,  I  was  often  ready  to  j)lead  excuses,  that  the  tvill  might  be 
taken  for  the  deed,  bnt  the  mighty  hand  of  God  was  upon  me,  and 
"IIls  wordivas  in  mine  heart  as  a  burning  fire  shut  up  in  my  bones;" 
And  a  language  similar  to  this  frequently  saluted  the  ear  of  my 
spirit  :  "  When  I  say  unto  the  wicked,  thou  shalt  surely  die,  and 
thou  givest  him  not  warning,  nor  speakest  to  warn  the  wicked  from 
his  wicked  way,  to  save  his  life,  the  same  wicked  man  shall  die  in  his 
ini(pnty ;  but  his  blood  will  1  require  at  thine  hand;  yet,  if  thou 
warn  the  wicked,  and  he  turn  not  from  his  wickedness,  nor  from 
this  wicked  way,  he  shall  die  in  his  iniquity  ;  but  thou  hast  deliv- 
ered thy  soul."  "''I  will  send  thee  into  that  part  of  my  vineyard, 
to  labor  in  my  name  for  the  good  of  souls,  to  visit  my  people  there, 
and  to  call  sinners  to  repentance." 

Wherefore  in  the  vision  of  light  and  life  I  saw  that  the  peace  and 
the  salvation  of  my  soul  consisted  in  my  submitting  to  this  concern; 
therefore,  under  the  energy  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  all  within  me  was 
often  melted  down  into  deep  humility,  and  the  language  of  my 
heart  was  :  "Thy  will  0  Lord,  in  all  things,  and  not  mine  be  done, 
for  thou  art  worthy  for  evermore  !'"' 

After  thus  submitting  to  this  weighty  and  very  imjjortant  con- 
cern in  my  own  mind,  it  frequently  became  my  religious  duty  to 
feel  after  the  right  time  to  move  therein  ;  under  exercise  of  this 
nature,  for  sometime,  I  passed  through  many  preparatory  baptisms 
in  connection  with  some  contlictts  williiu,  and  deep  trials  without, 
all  calculated  to  humble  me  as  in  the  dust.  In  being  thus  slughj 
and  ivalrlifuUii  devoted  in  the  spirit  of  my  mind,  to  the  pointings 
of  tlie  everlasting  truth,  in  relation  to  the  ordei'ing  of  this  concern; 
I  felt  myself  called   upon,  prior  to  moving  therein,  to  put  all  my 


1S48  JOURNAL    OF    I'lIOMAS    ARNKTT,  167 

outward  concerns  in  readiness  therefoi-,  that  I  may  stand  clear  and 
aloof  from  the  things  of  this  world.  After  attending  to  this  part 
of  my  religious  duty,  in  settling  down  in  the  sjnrit  of  my  mind, 
under  the  grace  of  God,  I  saw  in  the  illumin;ition  of  that  light 
which  never  has,  and  never  will  deceive,  that  the  time  liad  come  for 
me,  in  the  obedience  of  faith,  officially  to  submit  to  this  deeply  in- 
teresting concern  according  to  the  oi'der  of  our  religious  societv. 

I  therefore,  with  feelings  of  deep  humility,  in  great  tc;nderness 
of  spirit,  and  with  "fear  and  trembling,"  informed  Miami  Monthly 
Meeting  of  Friends  of  this  weighty  and  very  important  concern,  on 
the  "^Ist  day  of  the  6th  month,  1848.  While  tliis  subject  was  before 
the  meeting,  under  a  covering  of  much  solemnity,  the  sym[)athy 
and  unity  of  Friends  with  me  therein  were  felt  and  ex[)ressed,  and 
much  encouragement  was  civen  to  me  to  be  faithful  to  the  point- 
ings of  divine  wisdom  in  the  prosecution  of  this  concern  ;  and  on 
the  12th  day  of  the  8th  month  following,  I  opened  this  concern  in 
Miami  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends  ;  and  in  Christian  love  and 
religious  fellowship.  Friends  of  this  Meeting  felt  and  exi)ressed 
their  sympathy  and  unity  with  me  in  this  concern,  and  encouraged 
me  to  attend  to  it  in  the  opening  of  the  ever  blessed  truth. 

On  the  ■26tli  day  of  the  0th  month,  1848,  under  the  weight  of 
the  mighty  power  of  God,  I  spread  this  concern  before  the  Yearly 
Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders  of  Indiana  Yearly  Meeting.  While 
Friends  were  engaged  in  deliberation  on  this  weighty  and  very  im- 
portant subject  in  this  Meeting,  the  baptizing  power  of  the  Lord 
was  felt  to  be  over  the  meeting,  uniting  Friends  in  a  feeling  of 
sympathy  and  unity  with  me  in  this  concern;  and  in  the  opening 
of  divine  wisdom,  the  sympathy  and  unity  of  Friends  in  this  Meet- 
ing were  felt  and  expressed  with  me  in  this  engagement ;  and  with 
feelings  of  deep  humility,  much  encouragement  was  given  to  me  in 
this  meeting  by  Friends  to  go  forth  in  the  prosecution  of  this  con- 
cern, as  the  everlasting  truth  may,  from  time  to  time,  open  the 
way  for  me  to  labor  in  the  work  whereunto  I  am  called. 

All  then  of  these  meetings  gave  me  good  and  suitable  certilicates 
in  the  order  of  our  Religious  Society,  for  the  execution  of  this  con- 
cern ;  recommending  me  in  Christian  love  to  the  tender  care  and 
sympathy  of  Friends,  where  my  lot  may  be  c;)st,  and  to  the  protect- 
ing care  of  the  Lord  aiid  Savior  Jesus  Christ. 

After  this  concern  had  passed  the  concurrent  sympathy  and 
unity  of  Friends,  in  the  order  of  our  Religious  Society,  I  was'  deeply 
humbled  in  renewcdhi  feeling  the  beuetit  aiul  the  strength  of  the 
unity  of  the  spiiit  in  the  bond  of  pe;ute.  This  unity  proceeds  from 
Him  who  gathers  and  sustains  tlu^  true  church  in  every  ;ige  of  the 
world,  and  all  the  spiritual  members  thereof,  in  living  nigli  llim  in 
the  spirit  of  the  mind,  and  near  one  another  in  Christiai\  fellowship, 
do  participate  in  this  unity  with  that  sweet  \w\\('v  wliich  passeth  :dl 
understiiiuliiip-. 


1G8  JOrRN'AL    OF    THOMAS    AKNETT.  1848 

The  insi)ire<l  proji'iot  illustrates  the  benefit  of  this  unity  in  tliis 
language  :  "  Jii'lmld.  how  good  and  how  pleasant  it  is  for  brethren 
to  dwell  together  In  niiity  I  It  is  like  the  precious  ointment  ni)on 
the  head,  that  ran  down  upon  the  beiird,  even  Aaron's  beard,  that 
went  down  to  tiie  skii"ts  of  liis  garments,  as  the  dew  of  Hei'mon, 
and  as  the  dew  that  descended  upon  the  mountains  of  Zion,  for 
there  the  Lord  comnumded  the  blessing,  even  life  for  evermore  I'' 

Christian  unity  is,  according  to  this  Scripture,  a  very  good  thing, 
and  a  great  blessing,  and  es])ecially  among  bretliren — members  of 
the  same  family,  of  the  same  Christian  community,  and  of  the  same 
nation.     Aud  why  not  among  the  great  family  of  mankind  ? 

Al!  the  sanetified  members  of  our  Religious  Society,  who  walk 
*•  with  :dl  lowliness  and  meekness,  witli  Tongsuffering,  forbearing 
one  another  in  love,  endeavoring  to  keep  the  unity  of  tlie  spirit,  in 
tlie  bond  of  peace,*'  stand  on  the  sure  foundation,  liaving  this  seal, 
the  Lord  knoweth  theni,  and  he  will  never  leave  nor  forsake  them; 
but  as  they  hold  out  faithful  to  the  end,  he  will  bless  them  in 
time  and  in  eternity. 

After  our  Yearlv  Meeting,  through  the  couivse  of  the  winter,  I 
liad  a  severe  attack  of  bodily  indisposition,  and  was,  for  awhile, 
brought  Jow  in  body  and  mind.  My  complaint  was  chills  and  fever. 
I  was  confined  to  my  room  about  a  month,  during  wiiich  time  I 
felt  perfect  resignation  to  the  will  of  the  Lord.  I  cried  to  him  for 
mercy,  preservation,  and  ])rotcction  on  every  hand,  and  he  heard 
me  and  mercifully  strengthened  me  in  mind,  sjnrit  and  body,  so 
that,  through  his  mercy,  my  health  was  pretty  soon  again  ]-estored 
as  usual.  During  the  time  of  this  affliction,  I  remembered,  with 
feelings  of  deep  humility,  the  language  of  one  of  the  atfiicted 
servants  of  God.  formerly,  delivered  in  this  moving  strain:  " 'J'he 
L)rd  killeth  and  maketh  alive.  He  bringeth  down  to  the  grave, 
and  bringeth  up.  The  Lord  ma,keth  poor,  and  maketh  rich.  He 
bringeth  low  and  lifteth  up."  He  dealeth  with  his  ministers, 
whom  he  sendeth  forth  in  his  name,  in  a  manner  as  they  can  have 
nothing  to  rest  ujion,  consistent  with  his  will,  but  his  own  all- 
su])])orting  power,  in  wliom  there  is  everlasting  strength.  Praised 
forever  be  his  holy  and  worthy  name  ! 

lielieving  that  the  time  had  fully  come  for  me  to  ret  out  on  my 
great  journey,  having  put  all  my  outward  concerns  in  ]-eadlness 
therefor,  and  aftci-  liolding  a  numhcr  of  farewell  Meetings  for  di- 
vine wor^hiji.  In  various  settUments,  for  Friends  and  others,  in 
which  the  Spirit  of  the  (Jood  Shepherd  was  with  me,  granting  me 
strength  and  wisdom  to  labor  in  his  good  cause,  to  the  glory  of 
his  name — \,  on  the  LOth  day  of  the  od  month,  1840.  with  fervent 
prayer  and  supplication  to  Almighty  God,  took  a  most  affectionate 
leave  of  my  de;ir  wife  and  some  other  deiir  relatives  and  friends, 
commending  them  to  God  and  to  the  word  of  his  grace,  left  home 
and  went  to  Cincinnati,  where  I  continued  fur  a  few  rlavs.  visiting 


IS48  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    AUNETT.  169 

Sdiiie  dcai-  friends,  so  as  to  take  my  leave  of  them,  and  on  tlie  18th, 
being  First-day,  I  attended  Friends'  meeting  there,  wliicli  was  a 
good  and  lieart-melting  opportunity.  On  the  lOtii,  in  the  morn- 
ing, I  left  this  city  on  a  steamboat  for  Pittsburgh,  where  I  was  land- 
ed on  tlie  following  Fourth-day  night,  the  21st,  about  two  o'clock 
in  the  morning;  and  on  the  22d,  left  this  jDlace  for  Brownsville,  on 
a  steamboat,  in  the  morning,  where  I  was  landed  in  the  evening 
about  six  o'clock:  and  immediately  took  a  stiige  passage  for  Cum- 
berland, where  I  was  landed,  on  the  next  evening,  about  seven 
o'clock;  and  on  the  2J:th,  I  went,  on  the  railroad  train  of  cars,  for 
Baltimore,  in  tlie  morning,  and  was  landed  in  that  city  about  mid- 
night. ])eiiig  detained  on  the  way  about  six  hours  by  an  accident 
which  occurred  on  the  railroad  ;  and  on  the  25th,  being  First-day, 
I  attended  the  fore  and  afternoon  Meetings  of  Friends,  and  found 
some  good  service;  and  on  the  2Gth,  I  left  this  city  for  Philadel- 
phia, in  the  morning,  on  the  railroad,  where  I  was  landed  in  the 
afternoon.  I  continued  in  this  city  three  days,  visiting  the  Meet- 
ings of  Friends  on  these  days,  as  they  came  in  course,  and  was 
silent  in  all  of  them.  And'  on  the  30th,  I  left  this  city  in  the 
morning,  for  New  York,  where  I  was  landed  in  the  afternoon,  and 
was  kindly  received  and  waited  on  by  my  dear  Friend,  AYilliam  F. 
Mott,  and'  his  dear  wife.  In  all  three  of  these  cities  Friends  were 
glad  to  see  me,  and  manifested  the  utmost  sympatiiy  and  unity 
Avith  me  in  regard  to  the  prosecution  of  this  great  journey,  com- 
mending me  earnestly,  with  prayer  and  supplication,  to  the  Lord 
Almighty,  for  preservation  and  protection  on  every  hand.  I  was 
much  humbled,  in  believing  that  I  had  not  only  the  sympathy  and 
unity  of  Friends  of  my  own  Yciirly  Meeting,  in  regard  to  this  con- 
cern, but  also,  ilidt  of  my  dear  Friends  in  other  Yearly  Meetings. 

The  4th  month  1st,  being  First-day,  I  was  at  the  fore  and  after- 
noon Meetings  of  Friends  in  New  York,  and  was  called  into  much 
good  service  ;  and  on  the  2d,  I  attended  the  Meeting  for  sufferings 
of  Friends  there.  On  the  3(1.  I  was  at  the  Pj-eparative  Meeting  of 
Ministers  and  Elders  of  Friends  in  this  city.  In  both  these  Meet- 
ings, Friends  were  united  with  me  in  Cliristian  love. 

On  the  4th,  in  the  morning,  between  nine  and  ten  o'clock,  I  was 
accom})anied  by  several  dear  Fri(Mids  of  New  York,  through  a  great 
crowd  of  peojde  to  the  steamship  (Canada,  where  I  embarked  for 
Liverpool.  These  dear  Friends  continued  with  me  till  a  few^  min- 
utes before  she  sailed,  when  they  took  a  very  affectionate  leave  of 
me,  commending  me  to  tlie  ])rotecting  care  of  the  Lord  Almighty. 
The  steamship,  after  firing  cannon  several  times,  sailed  about 
twelve  o'clock.  She  was  much  crowded  with  pa«sengers,  among 
whom  there  Avere  people  of  much  religious  respectability,  being 
members  of  various  Christian  denominations,  with  a  number  of 
Avhom  I  formed  an  interesting  acquaintance,  during  the  voyage.  I 
found  much  good  service  among  them   in  explaining  to  them  the 


170  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AUNETT,  1848 

])rinciplGS  of  Friends,  informing  them  tliat  we  founded  all  our 
doctrines,  and  distinguishing  views  and  practices,  under  the  grace 
of  God,  on  the  authority  of  the  Holy  Scriptures. 

We  had  a  pleasant  passage  to  Halifax,  where  we  landed,  on  the 
7th,  in  the  evening,  about  six  o'clock,  where  we  met  with  cold 
Aveather,  which  continued  to  be  the  case  afterwards  throughout  the 
voyage.  The  hills  of  Nova  Scotia,  which  were  presented  to  our 
view,  were  covered  with  snow.  We  made  a  stop  here  of  two  hours, 
and  then  again  sailed.  On  this  day  I  was  sea-sick  in  some  degree, 
and  vomited  once,  and  felt  better ;  and  on  the  next  day,  being 
First-day,  I  was  so  unwell  that  I  Avas  not  able  to  sit  up  much.  I 
privately  waited  on  the  Lord  in  my  state-room,  frequently  reading 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  whereby  I  felt  strengthened  in  the  spirit  of  my 
mind. 

On  the  9th,  I  felt  better,  and  was  able  to  be  up  and  converse  with 
the  passengers.  On  this  evening,  about  nine  o'clock,  an  awful 
storm  of  wind  and  rain  arose  in  direct  opposition  to  our  great 
steamer,  which  continued  for  three  days  and  nights.  This  was  to 
me  the  most  awful  time  that  I  ever  saw.  Our  great  steamer  was 
plunged  up  and  down  over  the  awful  Avaves,  a  little  similar  to  that 
of  being  tossed  up  and  down  over  little  mountains ;  and  some- 
times she  was  so  violently  plunged  from  side  to  side,  that  it  was  as 
much  as  I  could  do  to  keep  from  being  thrown  out  of  my  berth. 
Sometimes  an  awful  high  wave  was  dashed  upon  the  ship  Avith  such 
violence  as  to  cause  her  to  quiver  for  a  few  minutes,  during  Avhich 
time  she  Avas  so  enveloped  Avith  Avater  that  even  the  AvindoAvs  were 
much  darkened,  and  frequently  the  water  on  deck  Avas  over  shoe-tojD 
deep.  During  this  aAvful  time  I  Avas  exceeding  sea-sick,  so  that  I 
Avas  brought  Ioav  in  body  and  mind.  I  was,  most  of  the  time,  not 
able  to  sit  up  ;  at  length  I  vomited  most  violently,  and  felt  a  little 
better.  During  this  sea-sickness  I  mostly  dieted  on  gruel,  us  noth- 
ing else  Avould  so  Avell  lie  on  my  stomach. 

While  this  storm  Avas  raging  with  awful  violence,  I  aat.s  induced 
Avith  feelings  of  the  deepest  humility  to  examine  rencivedly  the  pro- 
l)riety  of  this  concern.  I  scrutinized  the  origin  thereof  and  traced 
the  scrutiny  up  to,  and  through  the  meeting  Avhich  liberated  me  to 
this  Avork,  and  also  continued  the  consideration  up  to  the  time  of 
my  setting  out  on  this  great  journey;  and  tlie  result  of  this  exami- 
nation Avas  very  convincing  to  me.  under  Divine  Grace,  that  I  luid 
nun'cd  forth,  and  Avas  still  moving  forth  in  this  concern  consistent 
with  the  will  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ;  and  in  settling  doAvn  in  the 
spirit  of  my  mind,  in  the  obedience  of  faith,  this  language  SAveetly 
saluted  the  ear  of  my  spirit:  "Fear  thou  not,  for  I  am  with 
thee,  the  eternal  (Jod  is  thy  refuge,  and  underneath  are  the  ever- 
lasting arms."  The  all  supporting  power  of  the  Lord  Avas  merci- 
fully exteiuled  to  me,  so  that  I  saw  clearly  through  true  faith,  that 
through  divine  interposition  we  Avould  all  be  safely  landed  at  our 
desired  iwi  t. 


1848  JOUKNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  171 

I  liad  the  satisfaction,  both  before  and  after  this  awful  storm,  to 
take  a  fine  view  of  the  great  Athmtic  ocean,  which  to  me  was  grand 
and  deeply  humbling,  displaying  the  wisdom,  the  majesty,  and 
the  glory  of  that  great  and  worthy  Being  who  inhabiteth 
eternity. 

On  the  loth,  being  First-day,  I  was  again  so  unwell  that  I  con- 
tinued most  of  the  day  in  my  state-room,  secretly  waiting  ou  the 
Lord  for  the  renewal  of  my  strength  in  him.  AVe  were  at  length 
favored  to  land  at  Liverpool  on  the  10th,  in  the  morning,  being 
nearly  fifteen  days  after  leaving  Xew  York,  and  when  we  landed, 
the  weather  was  cold,  the  ground  being  covered  with  snow;  and 
after  landing  I  was  conducted  by  a  dear  friend  wlio  was  ready  to  re- 
ceive me,  to  the  very  kind  and  hospitable  house  of  Francis  Thomp- 
son, who  with  his  dear  wife,  Susan  M.  Thompson,  received  me  in 
the  unity  of  the  spirit,  in  the  bond  of  peace,  manifesting  that 
Christian  sympathy  for  me,  with  feelings  of  humility,  which  the 
Christian  religion  ever  inculcates.  I  praise  thee,  01  Lord,  everlast- 
ing God,  for  thy  mercy  and  protection  to  me  since  I  set  out  on  this 
great  Journey;  all  praise  is  forever  thine! 

When  I  was  landed  at  this  port,  I  was  so  reduced  in  body,  under 
the  effect  of  a  sea  voyage,  that  it  became  necessary  for  me  to  rest 
awhile,  for  the  purpose  of  a  little  improving  my  health,  which 
within  a  few  days,  through  the  assistance  of  a  little  medical 
aid,  was  much  restored,  for  which  I  was  thankful  to  the  good 
Shepherd. 

Friends  of  Liverpool  were  exceeding  kind  to  me,  manifesting  the 
utmost  sympathy  and  unity  for  and  with  me.  desiring  my  en- 
couragement in  the  prosecution  of  the  great  work  before  me,  com- 
mending me  earnestly  to  the  guidance  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  all  my 
movements. 

On  the  22nd,  being  First-day,  I  attended  the  morning  and  even- 
ing Meetings  of  Friends  in  this  place,  and  found  it  to  be  my  duty 
to  sit  with  them  in  silence,  under  feelings  of  deep  humility.  In 
the  Morning  Meeting,  a  dear  friend  in  the  ministry  appeaVed  in 
supplication,  in  whicii  he  was  called  upon  to  pour  out  his  soul  in 
prayer  on  my  behalf;  not  only  returning  thanks  to  the  Lord  for  his 
protecting  providence  toward  me  while  passing  over  the  great  water, 
but  also  that  he  may  mercifully  preserve  and  sustain  me  amidst  all 
the  trials  and  plungings  in  all  my  future  life.  This  was  indeed  a 
weighty  and  impressive  prayer,  being  delivered  under  the  ins2>ira- 
tion  of  the  spirit  of  the  everlasting  truth. 

On  the  ^-tth,  I  wrote  a  letter  to  my  dear  wife,  giving  her  some 
account  of  my  sea  voyage,  1  also  wrote  to  her  from  the  city  of  Xew 
York. 

On  the  2Gth  I  attended  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends  m  Liv- 
erpool, and  through  the  opening  of  the  good  spirit  I  was  favored 
with  a  refreshing  testimony  to  the  satisfaction  of  Friends. 


172  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    AHXETT.  1S48 

On  the  27tli  with  suit;iblc  com^^any,  intlie  evening  I  set  out  on  a 
steamer  fdr  tlic  city  of  Dublin,  in  Irehmd,  for  the  ])iirjio3e  of  at- 
tending the  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends  tliere,  where  I  was  landed 
on  the  next  morning,  and  was  very  kindly  received  hy  Friends.  I 
made  my  home  through  this  Yearly  Electing  with  my  dear  friend, 
Samuel  Bewley,  who,  with  his  dear  wife,  Maria  Bewley,  did  every- 
thing that  they  could  to  render  me  comfortable  while  I  was  under 
their  roof;  they  appeared  to  be  worthy  Fj-ionds  and  were  interesting 
and  kind. 

On  the  28th  came  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and  FUlers, 
held  in  Dublin.  I  was  silent  in  this  meeting  under  feelings  of  deep 
humility,  and  on  the  next  day,  being  First-day,  I  was  much  opened 
in  the  love  of  the  gospel  in  the  morning  meeting,  which  was  large, 
in  which  many  souls  were  humbled  under  the  baptizing  power  of 
the  Lord;  praised  forever  be  his  worthy  name.  In  the  evening 
meeting  I  was  silent,  but  some  other  dear  Friends  in  the  ministr}' 
had  much  good  service. 

On  the  30th,  the  Yearly  Meeting  for  Discipline  was  opened,  and 
much  business  Avas  transacted  on  this  day  in  Christian  love. 
Friends  appeared  to  be  conceived  to  live  nigh  the  blessed  truth,  and 
near  one  another  in  religious  fellowship. 

5th  mo..  First.  Frieiids  came  together  on  tliis  day  with  feelings 
of  deep  humility.  In  entering  on  the  State  of  Society  as  reported 
np  fj-om  the  Quarterly  Meetings,  the  spirit  of  the  everlasting  truth 
was  with  us,  and  granted  many  well  concerned  Friends  strength 
and  wisdom  to  labor  for  tlie  promotion  of  the  good  cause. 

The  2nd  came  on  a  public  Meeting  for  Worship  in  the  morning, 
wdierein  my  mouth  was  o])ened  in  truth's  testimony  to  good 
satisfaction,  and  in  the  evening  Friends  again  assembled  for  the 
transaction  of  the  affairs  of  church  discipline. 

The  od.  Friends  were  much  favored  on  this  day  in  coming 
togetlier  twii-e  for  the  ])rosecution  of  the  concerns  of  the  Yearly 
Meeting,  and  under  feelings  of  deep  humility  and  thankfulness 
to  the  Lord  for  all  his  blessings  and  mercies  to  us.  The  Meet- 
ing foi-  Discipline  closed  its  session  this  evening;  Friends  having 
acted  on  the  business  of  the  church   with  much  harmony. 

The  4th.  Friends  came  together  this  morning  to  hold  a  pub- 
lic general  Meeting  for  AVorshij),  in  which  we  were  much  hum- 
bled under  the  baptizing  power  of  the  Lord.  I  was  much  opened 
in  the  love  of  the  everlasting  gos]iel  to  good  satisfaction,  and 
this  meeting  was  considered  to  be  the  final  close  of  the  Yearly 
Mei'ting,  and  Friends  parted  after  this  Meeting  with  feelings  of 
the  unity  of  the  spirit,  in  the  bond  of  peace. 

TJie  oth,  I  spent  very  agreeably  in  jjaying  some  social  visits  to 
Friends,  and  on  the*  next  day,  being  First-day,  I  attended  the 
Meeting  of  Friends  in  Dublin,  in  the  morning,  and  in  the  evening 
I  was  at   Friends  Meeting  at  Monkstown.     In  botli  these  Meetings 


.1848  JOUKXAL   OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  173 

the  Lord  was  mercifully  with  me,  iind  gave  me  strength,  wisdom 
and  utterance,  to  })oint  out  the  way  of  life  and  salvation. 
Many  precious  souls  were  reached  and  much  humbled  as  in  dust 
and  ashes. 

The  7th.  I  this  morning  left  Dublin  for  Liverpool,  on  a  steam- 
er, and  the  Irish  Channel  being  very  rough,  I  soon  became  ex- 
ceeding sea-sick,  but  vomited  violently  and  was  better.  I  was 
landed  at  Liverpool  on  the  next  morning,  and  was  again  very 
kindly  received  at  my  home  there;  and  on  the  9th  in  company 
with  my  dear  friend  Thomas  Thompson,  I  set  out  on  railroad 
conveyance  to  attend  Brighouse  Monthly  Meeting,  to  be  held  at 
Huddersfield;  and  landed  there  in  the  evening,  and  found  a  very 
kind  reception  at  the  house  of  my  dear  friend  Thomas  Robson, 
with  whom  I  became  acquainted  some  years  since  in  my  own 
country,  when  he  was  there  with  his  wife,  Elizabeth  Robson,  ou 
a  religious  visit;  and  on  the  next  day  I  was  at  Huddersfi  Id  Par- 
ticular Meeting  for  worship  and'  was  silent,  and  on  the  11th  came 
the  Monthly  Meeting,  which  was  large,  and  much  owned  by  the 
good  Shepherd  of  Israel.  I  found  much  labor  in  the  work  of  the 
ministry  in  this  meeting  to  good  satisfaction.  Praised  forever  be 
the  Lord  I 

The  12th.  Again  returned  to  Liverpool,  and  on  the  next  day, 
being  First-day,  I  found  much  good  service  in  the  work  of  the 
ministry  in  attending  the  morning  and  evening  Meetings  of  Friends 
there,  strengtli  and  wisdom  being  granted  to  worship  God  in  spirit 
and  in  truth.     Blessed  be  his  name  for  evermorcl 

The  14th  and  15th  I  spent  in  writing  and  in  meditation,  and 
on  the  IGth  in  the  morning  I  attended  Friends  Meeting  at  Egre- 
mont,  and  in  the  evening  I  was  at  Friends  Meeting  at  Birkenhead. 
In  both  these  Meetings  I  found  good  service  in  the  love  of  the 
truth. 

The  17th  I  was  at  Liverpool  Particular  Meeting  for  worship. 
and  was  silent  under  very  peaceful  feelings.  I  thought  that  a 
precious  degree  of  solemnity  pervaded  this  Meeting.  Adored  for- 
ever be  the  Lord! 

On  the  18th  I  set  out  in  company  with  some  dear  Friends  for 
London,  in  order  to  attend  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends  in 
that  great  city;  we  traveled  by  railroad  conveyance,  being  upwards 
of  two  hundred  miles,  and  went  the  journey  in  about  six  hours, 
and  when  I  was  landed  there  I  was  very  kindly  received  by  William 
and  Maria  Allen  to  be  their  lodger  during  the  Yearly  Meeting,  and 
on  the  next  day  I  was  at  the  Meeting  for  Sufferings  in  this  city, 
and  felt  much  united  with  Friends  in  the  concerns  which  came 
before  them.     I  was  indeed  comforted  nmong  them. 

The  20th  being  First-day,  I  attended  the  morning  and  evening 
Meetings  of  Friends  at  Devonshire  House,  and  had  some  good  ser- 
vice in  the  ministry  and  in  prayer. 


174  JOLKXAL   OF   THOMAS    ARXETT.  1848 

The  21st.  The  Yearly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders  came 
together  this  morning  with  feelings  of  great  hnmility,  which  meet- 
ing lield  two  sittings  on  this  day,  and  one  on  the  next  day.  This 
meeting  was  large,  and  Friends  ajipeared  to  be  concerned  in  all 
their  movements  to  keep  under  the  pointings  of  truth.  I  found 
some  good  service  in  this  meeting  to  satisfaction. 

On  the  23d  the  Yearly  Meeting  for  Discipline  was  opened  at  the 
Devonshire  House.  Friends  came  together  this  morning  with  sin- 
cere desire  to  move  in  the  weighty  affairs  of  the  church,  in  that 
wisdom  which  comes  down  from  above,  with  which  this  meeting 
was  abundantly  favored  in  all  the  sittings  thereof.  They  were 
enabled  quietly  to  move  forth  on  this  and  the  next  day  in  the  tra- 
vail of  Society  to  satisfaction. 

The  25th.  I  this  morning  attended  the  public  Meeting  for  Wor- 
ship at  the  Devonshire  House,  it  was  very  large  and  much  crowded, 
in  which  I  was  opened  in  the  love  of  the  everlasting  gospel  to  good 
satisfaction.     Blessed  forever  be  the  Lord  I 

The  26th.  Friends  again  resumed  the  concerns  of  Society,  and 
were  favored  with  the  overshadowing  wing  of  ancient  goodness  and 
protection,  under  which  we  were  brought  to  feel  near  and  dear  one 
to  another. 

The  27th  being  First-day,  I  this  morning  attended  Friends  Meet- 
ing at  Stoke  Xewington,  and  was  abundantly  opened  in  illustration 
of  the  grand  scheme  of  Christian  redemption  to  good  satisfaction, 
the  baptising  power  of  the  Lord  was  over  this  large  and  very  inter- 
esting meeting,  under  which  we  were  brought  to  feel  near  and  dear 
one  to  another  in  Christian  love. 

In  the  evening  I  was  at  Friends  Meeting  at  Tottenham,  which 
through  Divine  Wisdom  was  made  a  refreshing  and  strengthening- 
season. 

The  28th  and  20tli.  Friends  again  resumed  the  concerns  of  the 
church,  and  were  favored  to  move  forward  therein  to  very  good 
satisfaction. 

The  30th.  I  again  this  morning  attended  the  public  Meeting 
for  Worship  at  the  Devonshire  House,  which  was  very  large  and 
much  owned  by  the  everlasting  truth.  Much  service  fell  on  me  in 
this  meetino-  to  sood  satisfaction.     Fi*aised  be  the   Lord  forever- 


more 


The  31st.  I  this  morning  with  the  unity  of  Friends  had  some 
good  service  among  Women  Friends  in  their  Yearly  Meeting,  where 
I  found  many  very  valuable  dear  sisters  who  love  the  truth  above 
all  things. 

6th  mo.  First.  The  Yearly  Meeting  for  Discipline  this  day 
came  to  a  very  satisfactory  conclusion.  This  was  one  of  the  most 
interesting  Yearly  Meetings  that  I  ever  attended,  many  valuable 
and  experienced  friends  belong  to  it;  the  baptizing  power  of  the 
Lord  was  felt  to  be  over  this  meeting  in  all  the  sittings  thereof, 


184S  JOURNA].    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  175 

uniting  Friends  in  the  unity  of  the  spirit,  in  the  bond  of  loeacc, 
under  the  blessed  intluenceof  which,  Friends  were  enabled  to  come 
to  satisfactory  conclusions  in  all  their  deliberations.  Many  very 
weighty  and  important  subjects  came  before  them  which  Avcre  con- 
sidered and  decided  upon  in  that  love  wliich  first  gathered  us  to  be 
a  separate  and  distinct  jieople,  and  which  has  been  with  us  through 
many  trials  and  difiBculties  down  to  the  ])resent  day.  Our  dear 
friends,  Anna  A.  Jenkins  and  Susan  Howland,  being  accom- 
panied by  her  dear  husband,  George  Howland,  a  worthy  elder, 
acceptabl}'  attended  this  Yearly  Meeting.  These  dear  Women 
Friends  were  valuable  ministers  from  New  England  Yearly  Meet- 
ing, they  found  much  good  service  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  in 
this  Yearly  Meeting.  I  was  glad  to  meet  with  them,  and  they 
manifested  the  same  feeling  in  meeting  with  me. 

Friends  of  this  Yearly  Meeting  manifested  that  genuine  kind- 
ness, sympathy  and  unity  with  me  which  the  spirit  of  the  gospel  of 
Christ  ever  cherishes  with  the  true,  experimental  believers  in  every 
age  of  the  world. 

The  2nd.  This  day  tlie  Yearly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders 
came  to  a  conclusion  with  feelings  of  deep  humility  and  gratitude, 
the  Lord  mercifully  condescended  to  manifest  His  good  presence  in 
this  meeting,  granting  that  counsel,  wisdom,  and  utterance  which 
edified  the  body  in  love  and  renewed  up  the  sj^irit  of  the  mind  in 
the  obedience  of  faith  ;  many  worthy  and  valuable  ministers  and 
elders  belong  to  this  meeting.  Toward  the  conclusion  of  this  meet- 
ing, all  within  us  appeared  to  be  humbled  down  as  in  the  dust  and 
ashes,  and  the  meeting  finally  concluded  Avith  thanksgiving  to  the 
Holy  and  Everlasting  God. 

The  3rd  being  First-day,  I  this  morning  attended  Friends'  meet- 
ing at  Peckham,  which  was  large  and  much  favored  with  the  bap- 
tizing power  of  the  Lord.  I  was  called  forth  into  the  work  of  the 
ministry  to  my  own  humble  admiration,  and  I  believe  to  the  edifica- 
tion of  Friends.     Praised  be  the  Lord  forever  !  ^ 

In  the  evening  I  was  at  the  same  meeting,  and  was  mercifully 
called  forth  in  prayer  and  supplication  on  behalf  of  all  my  fellow- 
beings  throughout  the  whole  world.  The  meeting  closed  with 
thanksgiving. 

The  4:th.  I  rested  some  on  this  day,  being  much  wearied  in 
attending  meetings  under  deep  exercise  of  mind,  and  on  the  next 
day  I  attended  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends  at  the  Devonshire 
House,  and  found  some  good  service  among  them. 

The  Gth  I  spent  in  writing  and  meditation,  and  my  dear  wife 
being  brought  renewedly  to  my  remembrance  in  the  love  of  the 
everlasting  Gospel,  I  therefore  wrote  a  letter  to  her,  encouraging 
her  in  the  way  of  life  and  salvation. 

I  have,  since  I  left  home  on  this  great  Journey  passed  through 
many  deeji  exercises  of  mind  ;  I  have  shed  many  tears  in  solitary 


170  JOURNAL    OF    TllUMA.S    AllXETT.  liH3 

places,  I  have  oftentimes  poured  out  my  soul  in  seei'ct  prayei*  and 
supplication  to  that  worthy  Being  who  alone  is  the  author  of  all  my 
sure  mercies,  befoie  whom  I  am  often  deeply  humbled  in  the  humility 
of  which  he  alone  is  the  author,  and  he  knows  the  sincerity  and  the 
integrity  of  my  heart,  he  knows  altogether  mine  u|)rising  and  my 
downsitting,  and  I  feel  myself  to  be' a  poor  unworthy  servant  before 
him  ;  not  being  worthy  of  the  least  of  his  mercy  and  of  his  truth 
with  which  ho  has  blessed  me.  I  beseech  thee.  01  Lord,  everlasting 
God,  abundantly  to  have  mercy  upon  me,  and  grant  me  from  day 
to  day  strength  and  wisdom  for  the  pi'osecution  of  the  great  work 
noio  before  me.  The  cause  is  thine,  holy  One.  01  I  pray  thee  to 
prosjjer  it  in  my  hand,  and  from  time  to  time  give  me  utterance  to 
the  glory  of  thy  name  and  to  the  peace  of  my  own  mind.  Advocate 
for  me,  0  !  holy  and  adorable  ^?aviour,  and  open  a  door  for  me  in 
this  country  which  no  man  can  shut,  for  I  have  none  to  look  to  but 
to  thee  who  loved  me  and  gave  thyself  for  me  and  for  all  mankind 
in  every  age  of  the  world.     All  the  glory  is  thine  forever  more  I 

The  7th.  I  this  morning  at  9  o'clock,  left  the  city  of  London  for 
Ireland,  feeling  my  mind  turned  to  that  land  in  the  prosecution  of 
the  field  of  labor  before  me.  Having  suitable  comjjany,  we  went 
on  railway  most  of  the  way,  by  Birmingham  and  Holyhead,  and 
were  landed  in  the  city  of  Dublin  about  lU  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
having  traveled  upwards  of  three  hundred  miles,  and  on  the  next 
morning,  with  suitable  company,  I  set  out  for  Grange  to  attend 
the  service  of  Ulster  Quarterly  Meeting  to  be  held  there,  and  landed 
at  this  place  in  the  evening,  and  on  the  9tli  I  attended  tlie  Quar- 
terly Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders,  and  on  the  next  day,  being 
First-day,  came  on  two  large  meetings  for  worship,  attended  by 
many  not  of  our  Society.  In  the  morning  meeting  I  was  pleasantly 
called  forth  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  to  good  satisfaction  ;  it 
was  a  good  meeting  to  many  precious  and  well-concerned  souls.  In 
the  evening  the  meeting  was  very  large,  a  number  of  the  soldiers 
attending  from  their  station  at  Charlcmont,  a  town  not  far  distant. 
I  was  led  to  speak  on  the  subject  of  war,  and  was  favored  in  a  good 
degree  to  illustrate  the  peaceable  nature  of  the  Kingdom  of  Christ, 
and  to  invite  the  people  to  come  out  from  the  war  s])irit,  the  spirit 
of  the  devil,  and  enlist  under  the  banner  of  peace,  the  spirit  of  the  gos- 
pel of  Christ.  The  mighty  power  of  God  was  over  this  meeting  and 
humbled  many  minds  as  in  dust  and  ashes.  Praised  forever  be  his 
great  and  worthy  name  I 

The  11th  came  on  the  Quarterly  Meeting  for  discipline,  whei'ein 
Friends  were  enabled  to  transact  the  business  that  came  before  them  to 
good  satisfaction  ;  and  on  the  next  day  this  meeting  closed  with  hold- 
ing a  public  meeting  for  worship,  in  which  Friends  were  brought  to 
feel  near  and  dear  one  to  another  in  the  unity  of  the  spirit,  in  the 
bond  of  peace,  and  at  the  close  of  the  meeting  Friends  parted  in 
that  true  sympathy  which  is  ever  cherished  and  sustained  by  the 


1849  JOURXAL   OF   THOMAS    AKNETT,  177 

everlasting  gospel.  After  meeting  I  went  to  the  house  of  my  dear 
friend  Jacob  Green,  a  valuable  minister,  who  twice  paid  very  satis- 
factory visits  in  gospel  love  in  America,  where  I  was  very  kindly 
entertained,  and  on  the  loth  I  attended  his  particular  meeting  at 
Ballinderry,  which  was  through  divine  love  made  a  very  good  meet- 
ing. In  the  evening  I  held  a  public  meeting  at  Hillsborough  to 
good  satisfaction,  ])raised  be  the  Lord. 

The  14th  I  attended  Friends'  meeting  at  Eichhill,  and  found  a 
number  of  tender-hearted  Friends,  among  whom  I  found  much 
good  service,  an^l  in  the  evening  I  held  a  meeting  at  Moyallen, 
which  was  rather  a  trying  season  ;  the  people  came  together  very 
much  in  the  outward,  and  not  in  a  right  disposition  to  receive  the 
truth,  m  the  love  of  it,  and  it  is  ever  trying  to  me  to  meet  such  a 
congregation,  which  has  often  been  very  much  the  case  with  me  in 
many  instances.  May  the  Lord  have  mercy  on  such  peojile.  I 
found  some  service  in  this  meeting,  but  not  much  to  the  peace  of 
my  mind.  I  commended  the  people  to  God  and  to  his  mercy  and 
grace  manifested  in  the  heart. 

The  15th  I  attended  Lurgan  Monthly  Meeting,  which  was  small, 
but  was  much  owned  by  the  good  and  merciful  Shepherd  of  Israel. 

The  16th  I  held  a  public  meeting  at  Rothfirland,  where  I  was 
enabled  to  preach  the  everlasting  gospel  in  the  demonstration  of 
the  spirit  and  with  })ower.  The  people  appeared  to  be  very  serious, 
and  much  disposed  to  receive  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it;  I  hope 
that  some  good  ini}n-ession  was  made  on  some  minds  that  will  be 
like  a  nail  driven  in  a  sure  place. 

The  l?th  being  First-day,  I  this  morning  attended  the  meeting 
of  Friends  in  lielfast,  which  was  large  and  through  divine  mercy 
Avas  made  a  good  meeting.  In  the  evening  I  held  a  public  meeting 
for  Friends  and  others  which  was  well  attended,  among  whom  I 
was  largely  opened  in  illustration  of  the  great  doctrine  of  Christian 
redemption,  I  though  t  that  many  hearts  were  touched  and  softened 
by  the  finger  of  divine  love;  this  was  a  good  meeting  and  closed 
with  prayer  to  God.  While  here  I  received  a  very  kind  and  affec- 
tionate letter  from  my  dear  wife,  giving  me  some  good  account  from 
home,  which  was  very  humbling  to  me.  I  thank  Thee,  0!  Lord, 
everlasting  God,  for  all  thy  mercy  and  blessing  bestowed  on  my 
dear  wife  and  on  myself,  continue  holy  One  more  and  more  to 
inspire  us  Avitli  gratitude  to  thee  and  preserve  us  from  evil  on  every 
hand,  and  conduct  us  through  all  to  thy  heavenly  kingdom, 
for  thine  is  the  power,  the  glory,  and  the  majesty  noAv  and 
forever ! 

The  18th.  I  this  evening  held  a  good  open  meeting  at  Lisburn, 
for  Friends  and  others,  which  was  well  attended  and  it  was  a 
solemn  and  impressive  season. 

The  19th.  I  held  a  small  meeting  at  Lower  Grange;  the  few 
who  attended  seemed  thankful  for  the  opportunity. 

12 


1T8  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARX^ETT.  18-19 

The  20th.  I  attended  Gmnge  Monthly  Meeting,  and  was  much 
opened  in  gospel  love  to  good  satisfaction;  all  the  praise  is  forever 
due  to  the  Lord  I 

The  31st.  I  set  out  this  morning,  having  suitable  company,  for 
Cootshill,  where  we  arrived  in  the  evening  in  time  to  hold  a  public 
meeting,  where  the  people  came  together,  I  thought,  more  through 
curiosity  than  for  divine  worship,  which  brought  on  me  deep  exer- 
cise: I  found  among  them  some  service,  but  not  much  relief.  The 
meeting  closed  pretty  well  with  prayer. 

The  2'id.  We  set  out  this  morning  for  Moate,  m  order  to  attend 
the  service  of  Leinster  Quarterly  Meeting,  to  be  held  there.  I  was 
much  aifected  on  this  day  as  well  as  on  other  days  generally  while 
traveling  in  this  land,  in  observing  the  poor  beggars;  oftentimes  in 
stopping  in  towns  and  villages,  I  am  surrounded  with  them,  begg- 
ing of  me  a  little  money.  On  such  occasions  I  was  moved  with 
tender  compassion  and  prayer  for  them  in  the  spirit  of  my  mind; 
ma}'^  the  Lord  have  mercy  on  them  I 

The  23d.  I  this  morning  attended  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of 
Ministers  and  Elders,  held  at  Moate,  which  was  a  good  refreshing 
season.  There  I  met  with  my  dear  Friend,  Jacob  Green,  who  had 
left  home  with  a  prospect  of  joining  in  with  me  awhile  as  a  fellow 
laborer  in  the  prosecution  of  the  great  work  before  me,  Avhich  was 
very  cordial  and  acceptable  to  me,  feeling  that  unity  with  him  in 
his  prospect,  which  truth  alone  is  the  author  of;  blessed  be 
God! 

The  24th  being  First-day,  I  this  morning  in  the  public  meeting 
for  worship,  found  it  to  be  my  place  to  sit  in  silence  under  deep 
exercise  of  mind,  but  in  the  itfiternoon  meeting  I  was  much  set  at 
liberty  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  to  good  satisfaction. 

The  25th  came  on  the  Quarterly  Meeting  for  discipline,  which 
was  conducted  to  satisfaction,  and  in  the  evening  this  meeting 
closed  with  holding  a  meeting  for  public  worship. 

The  two  following  days  we  held  meetings  for  worship  for 
Friends  and  others,  at  Tullamore  and  Edenderry,  which  were  good 
open  seasons,  and  on  the  28th  in  the  morniiig  we  held  a  small  but 
good  meeting  at  Eathangan,  and  in  the  evening  we  attended  a 
Society  Meeting  of  Friends  at  Monkstown,  instituted  for  the  relig- 
ious instruction  of  the  youth  among  Friends;  this  was  indeed  a 
very  interesting  meeting.  After  reading  some  very  excellent  advice 
to  the  youth,  selected  from  Friends'  writings  and  then  settling 
down  in  the  spirit  of  our  minds,  we  found  much  good  service 
among  them  in  the  work  of  the  ministry. 

The  29th.  We  this  morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  in 
Dublin,  where  I  was  silent  under  comfortable  feelings,  and  in  the 
evening  we  held  a  public  meeting  at  Wicklow,  where  we  found 
much  good  service. 

The  30tli.     We  again  returned  to  the  city  of  Dublin.     This  was 


1849  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKKETT.  179 

my  birth-day,  being  fifty-eight  years  of  age.  In  entering  into  a 
solemn  retrospect  of  the  Lord's  mercies  to  me  from  my  infancy  to 
this  day,  I  was  deeply  humbled  with  gratitude  to  him  for  all  his 
blessings  to  me. 

7th  mo.  1st  being  First-day  and  a  time  of  deep  exercise  with  me; 
attended  this  morning  Friends'  meeting  at  Monkstown,  and  had 
some  good  service.  In  the  evening  we  held  a  public  appointed 
meeting  for  worship  in  the  city  of  Dublin,  for  the  citizens  thereof; 
it  was  a  large  and  quiet  meeting,  in  which  T  was  called  upon  to  de- 
velop tlie  i^rinciples  of  the  everlasting  truth  in  the  demonstration  of 
the  spirit,  and  with  power;  it  was  a  good  meeting,  and  ended  in  a 
degree  of  that  humility  wliich  the  everlasting  truth  inculcates  and 
inspires. 

The  3nd.  We  this  morning  left  the  city  of  Dublin  and  traveled 
by  railway  and  coach  nearly  a  hundred  miles  to  Birr,  and  held  in 
the  evening  at  that  place  a  meeting  for  Friends  and  others,  where- 
in the  jjower  of  truth  prevailed  m  a  pretty  good  degree  to  the 
humility  of  a  number  of  sincerely  engaged  minds. 

The  3rd.  We  had  this  evening  a  very  interesting  meeting  at  Eos- 
crea,  for  Friends  and  others;  I  was  opened  in  much  Christian  love 
to  the  peoj)le  who  were  very  attentive  and  appeared  to  receive  what 
was  delivered,  I  thouglit,  in  a  good  degree  in  that  faith  which 
works  by  love;  may  all  praise  be  alone  given  to  God! 

The  4th  a  day  of  much  deep  inward  exercise  of  mind.  I  felt  very 
solitary  and  desired  above  all  things  to  berenewedly  resigned  to  the 
will  of  Him  who  hath  sent  me  into  this  country  to  declare  the  glad 
tidings  of  the  everlasting  gospel.  The  Good  Shepherd  at  length 
strengthened  me  and  caused  me  to  rejoice  in  his  worthy  name.  We 
had  a  pretty  good  meeting  at  Knock  bally  maher,  wherein  I  was 
drawn  to  set  forth  the  necessity,  in  order  for  salvation,  of  loving 
the  blessed  Saviour  in  the  way  of  the  cross,  and  of  keeping  his 
words;  some  were  much  tendered  and  humbled  in  their  minds. 

The  5th.  We  held  a  good  and  open  meeting  at  Mountrath, 
wherein  I  was  much  set  at  liberty  in  the  love  of  the  everlasting 
gospel.  Some  dear  Friends  were  much  tendered;  the  good  seed 
was  reached  to,  and  the  evil  chained  down. 

The  Cth.  We  preceded  this  morning  to  Mountmelick,  and 
landed  there  in  the  afternoon.  My  health  this  day  was  poor;  I  was 
brought  low  in  body  and  mind,  I  desired  abundantly  ever  to  be 
found  resigned  to  the  divine  will;  my  spirit  secretly  cried  to  the 
everlasting  God  for  his  all  supjiorting  power,  under  all  the  trials  of 
this  life,  and  I  know  that  he  will  preserve  and  support  me  through 
all  as  I  keep  the  eye  of  the  mind  single  to  Him. 

The  7th.  This  was  a  very  sick  day  with  me,  Friends  here 
were  very  kind  to  me,  they  proposed  some  medical  aid  which 
being  attended  to,  under  skillful  administration,  very  much,  under 
divine  mercy  relieved  me. 


180  JOUKXAL   OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  m9 

The  8th  being  First-day,  I  was  able  this  morning  to  attend 
Friends'  meeting,  and  was  favored  with  the  testimony  of  truth 
to  good  satisfaction.  We  this  morning  held  a  public  meeting  for 
the  citizens  of  the  town,  which  was  well  attended,  and  the  people 
were  very  still  and  attentive,  and  the  power  of  truth  pervaded 
the  meeting  under  which  many  souls  were  visited  in  the  love  of 
the  everlasting  truth;  it  was  a  good  meeting. 

The  9th  we  traveled  to  Ballintown,  and  on  the  next  day  we  held 
a  good  and  refreshing  meeting  there,  the  truth  was  near  and 
granted  wisdom  and  utterance  to  edification ;  praised  forever  be  the 
name  of  God  I 

The  11th  we  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at  Carlow,  which 
in  the  opening  of  Christian  love  was  made  a  good  and  very  im- 
jiressive  season,  the  power  of  the  everlasting  truth  was  over  all 
and  some  minds  were  humbled,  as  in  dust  and  ashes;  so  that  we 
were  encouraged  to  look  forward  in  the  obedience  of  faith. 

The  12tli.  We  held  a  good  and  very  interesting  meeting  at 
Kilconner,  the  people  appeared  to  be  willing  to  receive  the  truth 
in  the  love  of  it,  some  were  broken  down  and  edified  under  the 
power  of  it:  we  had  cause  to  thank  God  and  take  fresh 
courage. 

The  13th.  AVe  had  a  meeting  at  Ballintown,  wherein  I  was 
called  upon  to  bear  the  testimony  of  truth  with  fear  and  trembling,, 
feeling  the  life  to  be  so  low  that  I  was  induced  to  move  with 
great  caution,  it  was,  however,  a  pretty  good  meeting. 

The  14th.  We  held  a  precious  and  open  meeting  at  Cooladine, 
wherein  the  power  of  the  everlasting"  truth  prevailed  over  all,, 
some  were  much  tendered  and  humbled;  may  all  the  praise  be  for- 
ever given  to  the  Lord  who  alone  is  worthy! 

Tke  15th  being  First-day  and  a  time  of  deep  exercise  with  me, 
we  this  morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at  Enniscorthy, 
in  which  my  companion  found  good  service,  but  it  was  my  i^lace 
to  sit  in  suffering  silence.  Language  cannot  describe  my  very 
deep  exercise  while  in  this  meeting,  my  heart  mourned  over  a 
lukewarm  spirit,  jjrevalent  in  many.  None  in  this  meeting  knew 
my  inward  suffering,  they  were  not  deep  enough  to  go  down  with 
me  in  spirit  and  sympathize  with  those  of  the  suifering  seed,  and 
this  is  the  case  in  many  instances  in  this  land,  which  often  causes 
me  to  feel  very  solitary,  so  that  frequently  I  have  to  go  from 
place  to  place  under  deep  mourning,  oftentimes  being  silent,  un- 
der suffering,  as  to  ordinary  conversation.  In  the  evening  we 
held  a  public  meeting  for  Friends  and  others,  which  was  well 
attended  by  jjcopleof  different  persuasions,  among  whom  my  mouth 
was  opened  and  my  heart  was  enlarged  in  the  love  of  the  gospel. 
The  peoi)le  were  very  still  and  quiet  and  appeared  to  be  willing 
to  receive  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it;  many  were  broken  down 
into  tenderness  and  contrition.     I  hope  a  lasting  impression  was 


d 


184!>  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKNETT.  181 

formed  which  will  be  as  a  nail  driven  in  a  sure  place.  This  was 
to  nie  a  good  and  relieving  meeting,  and  I  believe  that  it  was  a 
solemn  time  with  many. 

The  16th.  We  tliis  morning  held  a  public  meeting  at  Wexford, 
for  Friends  and  others,  it  was  well  attended,  and  the  people  ap- 
peared to  be  humbled  under  the  mighty  power  of  God;  among 
whom  I  was  much  opened  in  gos]iel  love  to  very  good  satisfaction. 
The  17th.  We  this  morning  had  a  public  meeting  at  Eoss,  it 
was  large  and  much  crowded,  and  in  the  forepart  was  very  un- 
settled, but  at  length  the  power  of  truth  prevailed  over  many 
minds,  and  brought  humility  over  the  meeting,  and  so  way  opened 
for  the  flow  of  the  gospel. 

The  18th,  We  this  day  went  on  a  steamer  to  Waterford,  where 
we  were  very  kindly  received  and  entertained  by  our  dear  friends, 
Eichard  Allen  and  his  dear  wife,  and  on  the  next  day  we  attended 
the  meeting  of  Friends  there,  as  it  came  in  course,  and  found  much 
good  service  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  ;  and  on  the  20th  in  the 
.evening,  we  liad  a  public  meeting  for  Friends  and  others,  wherein 
the  everlasting  truth  had  the  ascendancy  ;  many  minds  were  Jium- 
bled  as  in  dust  and  ashes  ;  the  sincere  were  encouraged  to  hold  on 
their  way,  and  sinners  were  called  to  repentance.  The  meeting 
closed  in  prayer  and  supplication. 

The  31st,  we  this  day  traveled  to  the  city  of  Cork,  and  the  next 
day  being  First-day,  we  attended  Friends'  meeting  in  the  morning, 
and  held  in  the  evening  a  public  meeting  ;  in  both  these  meetings 
the  mighty  power  of  God  prevailed  to  the  deej)  humility  of  many 
minds.     All  the  praise  be  forever  given  to  the  Lord  ! 

The  23d,  we  this  evening  held  a  good  and  open  meeting  at 
Youghal,  wherein  my  mind  was  much  opened  in  the  love  of  the 
everlasting  gospel  ;  the  people  were  still  and  attentive.  After  meet- 
ing I  received  a  very  kind  and  affectionate  letter  from  my  dear  wife, 
giving  me  some  good  account  from  home.  This  intelligence  was 
truly  satisfactory  and  liumbling. 

The  24:th,  we  traveled  on  this  day  to  the  neighborhood  of  Cahir, 
and  on  the  next  day  we  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  there,  as 
it  came  in  course,  and  found  much  good  service  in  the  love  of  the 
everlasting  truth. 

The  2Gth,  we  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends,  as  it  came  in 
•course,  at  Clonmel,  wliere  in  the  fore  part  my  spirit  was  cast 
down,  but  at  length  truth  arose  in  dominion,  whereby  my  mouth 
was  opened  and  my  heart  was  enlarged  in  gospel  love  to  the  humil- 
ity and  edification  of  Friends, 

The  27th,  we  traveled  on  this  day  to  the  city  of  Limerick,  in  or- 
der to  attend  the  service  of  Munster  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends, 
to  be  held  there,  and  on  the  next  day  we  were  at  the  Quarterly 
Meeting  of  ministers  and  elders,  which  under  the  overshadowing 
wing  of  ancient  goodness  was  made  a  refreshing  season.  Friends 
were  brought  to  feel  near  together. 


182  JOURXAL   OF   THOMAS    AKNETT.  m» 

The  29tli  being  First-day,  we  attended  the  morning  and  evening 
meetings  of  Friends  in  this  city,  being  pnblic  Quarterly  Meetings 
for  worsliip.  In  both  of  these  meetings  I  was  abundantly  called 
out  into  the  work  of  tlie  ministry,  in  the  demonstration  of  the 
spirit  and  with  power.  Some  other  Friends  engaged  in  the  work 
of  the  ministry,  also  had  good  service  on  this  day.  The  good  s))irit 
of  the  Lord  was  Avith  ns  and  enabled  us  to  worship  him  in  spirit 
and  in  truth  ;  many  precious  souls  were  humbled  as  in  dust  and 
ashes,  and  the  negligent  were  impressively  warned  of  the  wrath  to 
come  without  repentance  toward  God,  and  faith  toward  his  well  be- 
loved Son,  who  gave  himself  for  us.  This  day  will  long  be  remem- 
bered by  many  who  attended  these  meetings. 

The  30th.  Friends  came  together  this  morning  to  transact  the 
affairs  of  the  Quarterly  Meeting  for  discipline,  and  they  were  fa- 
vored under  the  influence  of  true  wisdom  to  conduct  the  business 
that  came  before  them  to  good  satisfaction  ;  and  in  the  evening 
this  Quarterly  Meeting  closed  with  holding  a  public  meeting  for  di- 
vine worship,  which  opportunity  was  eminently  owned  by  him  who 
never  has  and  never  will  leave  nor  forsake  his  little  ones,  but  these 
he  will  preserve  and  sustain  through  all  trials  and  tribulations,  to- 
the  glory  and  honor  of  his  holy  and  worthy  name! 

After  the  service  of  this  Quarterly  Meeting  was  over,  I  parted 
with  my  dear  and  sympathizing  friend  Jacob  Green,  we  having 
traveled  together  since  he  joined  me  in  this  work  in  the  unity  of 
the  spirit,  in  the  bond  of  peace  ;  he  was  much  favored  in  the  work 
of  the  ministry  while  with  me,  particularly  in  the  family  oppor- 
tunities, wlierein  he  was  opened  to  speak  to  the  states  and  condi- 
tions thereof,  to  good  satisfaction.  We  parted  in  that  love  which 
death  can  never  extinguish,  commending  each  other  to  God,  and  to 
the  word  of  his  grace  manifested  in  the  heart. 

The  olst.  I  this  day  traveled  to  Knockarder,  near  Garlow,. 
where  I  was  kindly  received  and  entertained  a  few  days,  by  my 
dear  friend,  Elizabeth  Houghton.  I  being  in  much  need  of  a  lit- 
tle rest,  she  manifested  the  tenderest  and  utmost  Christian  sym- 
pathy for  and  with  me,  for  whom  I  became  deeply  interested  ;  she- 
having  recently  buried  her  dear  father  and  brother  who  lived  with 
her,  and  her  duar  mother  having  deceased  long  since,  and  all  hei* 
near  relatives  being  in  America.  Therefore,  she  being  lonely  sit- 
uated, she  had  a  sti'ong  claim  on  the  symi)athy  of  her  dear  friends. 
She  is  a  young  woman  of  a  sound  mind,  and  of  an  excellent  under- 
standing, her  capacity  being  bright  and  intelligent,  and  she  having 
received  a  liberal  education  and  being  well  informed;  therefore,! 
believe  that  as  she  may  be  favored  to  keep  her  place  in  yielding  to 
the  conviction  of  the  everlasting  truth,  she  will  be  an  acquisition 
to  our  religious  Society  ;  and  I  have  met  with  many  dear  young 
women,  and  also  young  men  in  our  Society  of  this  description,  in 
passing  through  the  meetings  of  Friends  in  this  land,  to  whom  I 


1S4-J  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  183 

became  united  in  that  love  wliicli  eminates  from  the  throne  of 
grace,  in  wliich  I  commended  them  to  the  protection  of  the  ever- 
histing  God  I 

Eighth  month  1st.  I  on  this  day  attendeil  Friends'  meeting  at 
Carlow,  and  in  the  evening  held  a  public  meeting  for  the  citizens  of 
the  town.  In  both  these  meetings  I  was  much  enlarged  in  the  love 
of  the  gospel. 

The  two  following  days  I  devoted  to  resting,  meditation,  and 
writing,  and  on  the  4th  I  went  to  the  city  of  Dulilin  ;  and  the  next 
day  being  First-day,  I  Avas  at  Friends'  meeting  there  in  the  morn- 
ing, which  was  large,  and  in  the  evening  I  attended  Frientis' meet- 
ing at  Monkstown.  In  these  meetings  I  was  called  forth  into  much 
good  service. 

The  (3th  I  devoted  to  rest  and  meditation;  on  the  next  day  I 
was  again  at  Friends'  meeting  in  Dublin,  to  satisfaction. 

The  8th.  Feeling  my  mind  turned  again  in  gospel  love  to  Bel- 
fast, I  therefore  on  this  day  traveled  to  that  town,  and  on  the  next 
day  I  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  there,  and  ojiened  to  them 
a  prospect  which  imi)rcssed  my  mind  of  performing  a  visit  in  gos- 
pel love  to  the  families  of  this  meeting,  which  being  united  with, 
I  therefore  with  feeding  of  deep  humility,  entered  upon  this  very 
interesting  concern,  and  in  the  prosecution  thereof,  I  attended  their 
next  First-day  morning  meeting  for  woi'ship,  which  was  large,  and 
in  the  evening  held  a  meeting  for  the  youth  ;  and  both  these  meet- 
ings were  much  owned  by  the  good  Shepherd  of  Israel.  Blessed 
forever  be  his  holy  and  worthy  name  I 

I  proceeded  in,  and  completed  this  family  visit  on  the  14th,  and 
on  tho  15th,  I  quietly  rested  at  a  Friend's  house  ;  having  visited 
about  forty  families  of  Friends  to  good  satisfaction.  In  going  in 
among  them  from  house  to  house,  they  appeared  to  be  open  in 
s])irit  to  receive  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  in  the  love  of  it. 

In  passing  through  the  meetings  of  Friends  in  this  land,  while 
I  met  with  many  dear,  sweet-spirited  friends,  I  had  cause  to  mourn 
in  many  instances  over  the  existence  of  a  lukewarm  spirit  in  many, 
with  whom  the  life  of  pure  religion  was  at  a  low  ebb,  which  often 
brought  on  me  deep  exei'cise  and  travail  of  spirit ;  and  I  believe 
that  the  following  letter  which  I  received  a  few  days  ago,  from  a 
dear  friend  who  had  sometime  ago  traveled  in  this  land  in  the  work 
of  the  ministry,  will,  in  degree,  represent  the  state  of  our  religious 
)Society  in  this  part  of  the  great  vineyard. 

Ben-Rhydding,  7th  Month,  ;Mth,  1849. 
Mil  Dear  and  Beloved  Friend  : 

Since  we  saw  each  other  in  the  great  city  of  London,  very  often 
have  I  thought  of  thee,  and  my  mind  seems  to  have  followed  thee 
in  pursuing  thy  gosjiel  mission  from  place  to  place  in  Ireland,  and 
where  no  doubt  thou  hast  to  meet  with  deaths  oft  and  baptisms 


184  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  1349 

many  ;  for  it  remains  to  be  a  trntli,  that  where  the  Master  is,  there 
must  the  servant  be  also,  and  no  doubt  but  in  that  land  thou  wilt 
find  the  precious  seed  of  life  in  many  i^laces  to  be  low  and  under 
oppression  ;  but  how  sweet  it  is  to  believe  that  as  we  keep  near  to 
the  pood  Master,  even  as  servants  waiting  for  their  direction, 
whether  it  lead  us  into  suifering  or  rejoicing,  wo  shall  know  the 
promise  to  be  fulfilled,  "If  any  man  serve  me,  him  will  my 
Father  honor,^' — and  though  we  find  in  ])assingupand  down  in  the 
Lord's  service,  that  there  is  much  cause  for  mourning  and  lamenta- 
tion, because  of  the  low  state  of  things  amongst  us  in  many  places; 
yet  I  believe  there  is  also  ground  to  entertain  a  cheering  hope  that 
the  o-athering  arm  of  the  Lord  is  stretched  forth  over  us,  and  that 
there  are  more  than  a  few  who  are  evidently  yielding  to  his  benign 
influence;  and  I  doubt  not,  but  that  in  Ireland,  thou  wilt  meet  with 
many  sweet-spirited  friends,  whose  minds  are  exercised  for  the  pros- 
perity of  Zion,  and  the  enlargement  of  her  borders.  I  do  not  know 
where  this  letter  may  find  thee,  but  1  liojje  it  may  get  to  thy  hand 
before  thou  leavest  Ireland,  Being  at  this  place  for  a  week  or  ten 
days,  for  a  little  relaxation  and  change  of  air,  feeling  rather  feeble 
and  out  of  health,  it  felt  pleasant  to  me  to  sit  down  ana  write  to 
thee  a  few  lines  in  token  of  my  remembrance  of  thee,  my  dear 
friend;  though  I  am  feeling  in  so  low  and  poor  a  state  of  mind, 
yet  it  is  very  precious  to  feel  that  I  love  the  brethren,  and  it  may 
perhaps  be  looked  upon  as  a  token  of  some  remaining  life.  Oh,  it 
is  very  sweet  to  feel  united  in  the  precious  fellowship  of  the  gospel 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  My  heart  has  often  flowed  in  love  and 
sympathy  with  thee,  believing  that  in  endeavoring  to  discharge  a 
solemn  duty,  thou  wilt  often  be  brought  under  deep  exercise  of 
mind,  and  })erhaps  have  to  sit  as  in  low  places;  but  fear  not,  I 
feel  sweet  unity  with  thee  and  fully  believe  tlie  great  Master,  Avho 
has  sent  thee  forth,  will  not  forsake  thee;  thou  hast  known  what  it 
is  to  be  brought  low,  and  the  Lord  hath  lielped  thee,  and  it  is  writ- 
ten concerning  them  who  fear  the  Lord  and  walk  in  his  command- 
ments, '^  I  will  never  leave  thee  nor  forsake  thee."  I  have  not 
happened  to  hear  anything  of  thee  since  thou  got  into  Irehmd. 
though  I  have  made  inquiry  fre(piently.  I  however,  have  no  doubt 
as  to  the  sustaining  power  of  the  Lord  having  been  with  thee,  and 
I  hope  thou  hast  been  favored  with  pretty  good  health,  so  as  to  be 
able  to  get  on  pretty  comfortable  in  that  respect,  and  perhaps  thou 
mayest  be  drawing  to  a  close  in  Ireland.  Well,  my  very  dear 
friend,  in  the  feeling  of  a  measure  of  that  love  which  changeth  not, 
I  must  bid  thee  farewell,  and  remain  in  much  sympathy,  thy  sin- 
cere and  affectionate  friend,  Richard  F.   Foster. 

The  16th.  I  this  day  attended  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends 
in  Belfast.  It  was  a  large  and  good  meeting.  I  was  much  opened  in 
gospel  love  among  Friends  in  this  meeting,  to  good  satisfaction.  And 
MO?^',  feeling  my  mind  turned,  in  the  love  of  truth,  to  attend  theUen- 


1849  JOUENAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  185 

ei-al  Meeting  of  Friends  in  Scotland,  to  be  held  at  Aberdeen,  I  there- 
fore this  evening  went  on  l)oard  a  steamer,  and  was  landed  early 
the  next  morning  in  Scotland,  and  by  way  of  railroad  and  coach 
conveyance  I  was  landed  in  the  evening  at  Aberdeen,  and  on  the 
18th  in  the  evening  came  the  Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders, 
which  was  held  to  good  satisfaction.  Here  I  met  with  my  dear 
friend  James  Jones,  from  America,  a  minister  of  onr  religious  soci- 
ety, and  a  member  of  New  England  Yearly  Meeting,  he  being  lib- 
erated in  the  order  of  our  society  for  much  religious  service  in  this 
country.  AVe  labored  harmoniously  together  through  the  service 
of  thisGeneral  Meeting,  being  united  in  the  unity  of  the  spirit  in 
the  l)ond  of  peace. 

Tlie  19th  being  First-day,  in  the  morning  meeting  I  was  silent, 
under  deep  exercise  of  mind.  My  dear  friend  from  America  found 
much  good  service;  and  in  the  evening  meeting  we  both  found 
much  good  service  in  the  love  of  truth.  Praised  forever  be  the 
Lord! 

The  •^Oth.  On  this  day.  after  a  meeting  for  divine  worship, 
came  the  meeting  for  discipline,  which  was  conducted  m  the  love 
of  the  gospel;  this  was,  upon  the  whole,  a  good  and  edifying 
meeting,  and  ended  in  true  Christian  sympathy  and  tender  affec- 
tion. 

The  ,21st,  we  Jield  a  meeting  in  the  morning  for  Friends  of 
Kinmuch,  at  their  meeting-house,  which  Avas  a  precious  opportu- 
nity, and  in  the  evening  we  held  a  meeting  there  for  their  neigh- 
bors, which  was  well  attended,  and  the  Lord  granted  to  us  his  tes- 
timony, to  the  humility  and  edification  of  many  minds. 

The  22n(\.  I  this  morning  very  affectionately  parted  with  my 
dear  friend  from  America,  and  in  the  evening  I  held  a  pretty  good 
meeting  at  Old  Meldrum,  in  the  town  hall.  The  people  were 
attentive. 

The  33rd  I  rested  at  a  Friend's  house,  and  on  the  next  day  in 
the  evening  I  held  a  good  open  meeting  at  Inverary,  in  the  town 
hall.  It  was  a  large,  crowded  meeting,  and  the  testimony  of  truth 
went  forth,  to  the  humbling  of  many  minds. 

T'he  25th.  I  again  returned  to  Alierdeen,  and  the  next  day  being 
First-day,  I  was  at  Friends"  meeting  in  the  morning,  which  was 
held  in  silence;  and  in  the  evening  I  held  a  public  meeting  for  the 
citizens  of  the  city,  in  Friends"  meeting-house.  It  was  a  large, 
crowded  meeting,  and  much  owned  by  the  good  Shepherd  of  Israel. 
I  was  enabled  to  declare  the  everlasting  truth  in  the  demonstration 
of  the  spirit,  and  with  power.  While  here  I  was  very  kindly  enter- 
tained at  the  house  of  my  dear  friend  Lydia  A.  Barclay,  who  mani- 
fested the  tenderest  Christian  sympathy  for  and  with  me,  in  the 
unity  of  spirit  in  the  l)ond  of  peace.  She  is  a  valuable  minister  of 
our  Society,  and  appears  to  be  deeply  concerned  for  the  right  main- 
tenance of  the  principles  of  our  Religious  Society,  she  is  a  descend- 
ant of  the  valuable  and  the  worthv  Robert  Barclay. 


186  JOUKNAL    OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  1S4(. 

The  2Tth.  Feeliug  my  mind  clruwn  in  gos])el  love  to  visit  some 
parts  of  .Scotland  where  no  Friends  reside,  I  therefore,  this  morn- 
ing, having  suitable  company,  set  out  for  Stone'  Haven,  where  1 
held  a  meeting  in  the  evening  in  the  Methodist  meeting-house,  to 
good  satisfaction.  On  my  way  to  this  town  I  turned  aside  to  visit 
Ury,  the  residence  of  the  noted  and  the  worthy  Robert  Barclay.  I 
was  kindly  conducted  througli  the  whole  building,  which  he  once 
occupied,  and  saw  the  room  whore  he  wrote  the  "Apology."'  While 
taking  this  view,  I  was  humbled  in  meditating  on  the  subject  of 
the  blessed  exchange  of  the  righteous  from  the  earth  to  heaven. 

The  28th.  I  this  evening  held  a  good,  favored  meeting  at  Mont- 
rose, in  the  Guild  hall,  so  called.  The  people  appeared  to  be 
willing  to  receive  the  truth  of  the  gospel  in  the  love  of  it,  in  this 
meeting.  I  met  with  a  number  of  tender  hearted  people,  who  were 
very  alfectionate  to  me. 

The  29th.  I  this  evening  held  a  pretty  good  meeting  at  Dundee, 
in  the  Caledonian  hall,  so  called.  The  people,  in  the  fore  part  of 
the  meeting,  were  restless,  but  at  length  the  power  of  truth  was 
much  spread  over  us,  under  which  numy  minds  were  humbled,  as 
in  dust  and  ashes;  so  that  the  worthy  and  the  great  name  was 
exalted  over  all.  Here  I  met  with  a  number  of  very  tender-hearted 
people,  with  wliom  I  had  a  more  ])rivate  interview  after  the  public 
service  of  the  meeting  was  over,  wliom  I  commended  to  God  and  to 
the  word  of  his  grace. 

The  30th.  I  this  evening  held  a  deeply  interesting  irieeting  at 
Perth,  in  the  City  hall.  It 'was  largely  attended  by  intelligent  and 
well  informed  people,  over  whom  the  ancient  wing  of  goodness  was 
spread,  to  the  humbling  and  edifying  of  many  minds.  Praised  be 
the  Lord! 

The  31st,  a  day  of  much  pleasing  meditation  with  me,. my  spirit 
being  clothed  with  gratitude  to  God,  and  love  to  all  mankind.  I 
this  evening  held  a  good  and  very  favored  meeting  at  Crieff,  in  the 
Masons'  hall,  so  called.  The  everlasting  truth  reigned  over  all. 
Blessed  forever  be  the  Lord. 

Ninth  month  1st.  I  this  day,  having  suitable  company,  traveled 
to  the  city  of  Glasgow,  and  the  next  day  being  First-day,  1  attended 
Friends' meeting  there  for  worship,  and  was  much  united  with  them 
in  the  testimony  of  truth.  In  the  evening  I  held  a  large  and  very 
interesting  meeting  for  the  citizens  of  the  city,  in  the  Trades  hall: 
the  doctrine  of  the  everlasting  gospel  was  preached  in  the  demon- 
stration of  the  spirit,  and  with  power;  many  souls  were  visited, 
and  humbled  as  in  dust  and  ashes.  The  great  name  was  exalted 
over  all,  and  the  meeting  closed  very  solemnly,  Avith  prayer  and 
su]  (plication. 

The  3rd.  I  this  evening  had  a  meeting  at  Paisley,  in  the  Aber- 
corn  assembly-room,  which,  in  the  fore  part,  was  somewhat  trying, 
but  at  length  the  testimony  of  truth  was  given,  in  the  demonstra- 


1849  JOUHxNAL   OF   THOMAS    AllNETT,  187 

tion  of  the  spirit,  and  with  power,  so  that   it  turned  out  to  be  a 
good  and  refreshing  season. 

The  4th.  I  this  evening  held  a  good  open  meeting  at  Kilmar- 
nock, in  the  Presbyterian  meeting  house.  Tlie  people  were  still 
and  quiet,  and  numifestcd  much  religious  feeling.  The  power  of 
truth  was  over  all,  and  many  precious  souls  were  visited  and  encour- 
aged in  tlie  way  of  a  lioly  life. 

The  5th,  I  this  evening  held  a  large  and  highly  interesting- 
meeting  at  Bannockburn,  in  the  town  hall.  My  mind  was  much 
opened  in  this  meeting  in  gospel  ministry,  to  the  humility  and  edi- 
fication of  many  minds.     Praised  forever  be  the  Lord! 

The  6th.  I  this  evening  held  a  trying  meeting  at  Coatbridge. 
The  people  came  together  very  much  in  the  outward,  but  at  length 
they  became  a  little  settled  down  in  spirit,  after  which  I  had  some 
service  among  them,  but  not  much  to  my  relief.  I  thought,  how- 
ever, that  some  litttle  good  was  done  among  them. 

The  7th.  I  this  evening  iield  a  good  open  meeting  in  the  town 
of  Lanark^  in  a  school  house.  Those  who  attended  were  gener- 
ally of  the  youth,  to  whom  the  call  of  the  everlasting  gospel  went 
forth,  to  mnch  humility  of  sjnrit.  After  this  meeting,  with  suita- 
ble company,  I  set  out  for  the  city  of  Edinburgh,  where  I  was 
landed  this  night  about  2  o'clock  after  midnight,  and  being  much 
fatigued  with  traveling,  and  in  poor  health,  I  therefore  rested  at  a 
Friend's  house  on  the  8th.     Friends  here  were  very  glad  to  see  me. 

The  9th,  being  First-day,  and  a  time  to  be  remembered  by  many. 
I  this  morning  attended  Friends'  meeting  in  this  city,  and  found 
much  good  service  among  them;  and  in  the  evening  I  held  a  public 
appointed  meeting  in  the  South  College  street  chapel,  so  called. 
This  was  a  very  large,  still  and  quiet  meeting,  and  it  was  one  of  the 
best  meetings  that  1  ever  held.  My  mind,  to  my  own  admiration, 
was  eminently  opened  in  illustration  of  the  great  doctrine  of  Chris- 
tian redemption.  Many  minds  were  deejily  humbled,  as  in  dust 
and  ashes.  The  everlasting  truth  reigned  over  all,  and  the  great 
and  worthy  name  was  exalted,  to  the  glory  and  praise  thereof.  x\ll 
the  praise  is  due  to  Him  who  works  wondrously  in  the  heavens  and 
in  the  earth,  according  to  the  counsel  of  his  own  wisdom! 

The  10th.  I  this  evening  held  a  very  good  meeting  at  Leitli,  in 
one  of  the  assembly-rooms.  It  was  well  attended,  and  the  power  of 
truth  was  over  all.  J31essed  forever  be  the  name  of  the  everlasting 
God! 

The  11th.  I  this  evening  held  a  good  and  precious  meeting  at 
Dunfirmline,  in  the  Jiaptist  meeting-house.  Many  precious  souls 
were  visited  to  edification,  in  the  love  of  the  everlasting  gospel. 
There  was  much  Christian  feeling  entertained  by  many  in  this 
meeting.     All  the  praise  is  due  to  the  Lord! 

The  12tli  I  spent  in  resting  and  meditation,  and  on  the  next  day 
I  attended  Friends'  meeting,  as  it  came  in  course,  and  had  some 
good  service. 


188  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  1849 

The  l-itli  I  spent  iu  writing  and  visiting  some  indisposed  Friends, 
to  good  satisfaction, 

Ti»e  loth,  I  this  day,  with  suitable  company,  set  out  for  Liver- 
pool, feeling  my  mind  religiously  directed  that  way,  where  I  arrived 
in  the  evening;  and  the  next  day  being  First-day,  I  attended 
Friends'  meetings  there,  as  they  came  in  course.  In  the  morning 
meeting  I  was  silent,  but  in  the  evening  meeting  I  had  pretty  good 
service.     Friends  here  appeared  to  be  very  glad  again  to  see  me. 

The  17th  and  the  18th  I  spent,  under  very  deep  exercise  of 
mind,  in  writing  and  in  meditation,  I  was  brought  down  deeply 
in  judgment  before  God.  I  felt  destitute  and  very  poor;  his  mighty 
hand  was  upon  me,  mercifully  showing  me  that  all  my  strength  was 
alone  in  him,  and  that  without  him  I  could  do  nothing  that  would 
advance  his  good  cause.  Language  cannot  describe  the  feeling  of 
my  mind,  I  said  "  Oh,  that  I  had  wings  like  a  dovel  for  then 
would  I  fly  away  and  be  at  rest.  Lo!  then  would  I  wander  far  off, 
and  remain  in  the  wilderness.  I  would  hasten  my  escape  from  the 
Avindy  storm  and  tempest."  I  said,  "He  has  caused  the  arrows  of 
his  quiver  to  enter  my  veins."  I  sat  alone,  and  kept  silence,  "  be- 
cause he  hath  borne  it  upon  "  me.  I  put  my  mouth  as  in  the  dust, 
"if  so  be  there  may  be  hope.'"  Oh,  how  very  much  I  desired,  about 
this  time,  to  be  preserved  on  every  liand,  to  the  glory  and  to  the 
honor  of  the  everlasting  truth  I 

The  19th  I  attended  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends,  held  in 
Liverpool,  and  in  the  evening  was  at  their  Quarterly  Meeting  of 
Ministers  and  Elders.  I  was  silent  in  these  meetings  this  day, 
under  very  deep  exercise  of  mind.  Some  other  Friends  in  the  work 
of  the  ministry  had  good  service. 

The  20th  came  the  Quarterly  Meeting  for  worship  and  discipline, 
which  through  divine  mercy  was  made  a  season  of  humility  and 
edification.  My  mind  was  much  opened  in  the  love  of  God,  in 
which  Friends  were  brought  to  feel  near  and  dear  one  to  another, 
in  the  unity  of  spirit  in  the  bond  of  peace.  Here  my  dear  friend 
Eussel  Jeffrey,  of  London,  a  minister,  met  me,  with  a  certificate  in 
the  order  of  our  society,  liberating  him  to  travel  with  me,  as  way 
may  oi)en,  which  was  very  satisfactory  and  acceptable  to  me. 

The  21st.  We  spent  this  day  in  visiting  some  families  of  Friends, 
to  our  mutual  strength  and  satisfaction. 

The  22nd.  We  left  this  evening  for  Kendal;  and  the  next  day 
being  First-day,  we  attended  Friends'  meeting  there  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  in  the  evening  held  a  public  meeting.  These  meetings 
were  deeply  interesting  seasons;  the  Lord  was  with  us,  and  hum- 
bled us  as  in  the  dust. 

The  24th.  We  this  evening  held  a  deeply  interesting  meeting  at 
Penrith,     The  power  of  truth  appeared  to  be  over  all. 

The  25th.  We  held  a  meeting  at  Scotby  in  the  morning,  and 
one  in  the  afternoon  at  Moorhousc,  both  of  which  were  satisfactory 
and  strengthening  seasons. 


1849  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  180' 

The  26th.  We  this  morning  held  a  good  open  meeting  at  Wig- 
ton,  and  in  the  evening  attended  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Minis- 
ters and  Elders  at  Cockermouth;  and  on  the  next  day  we  attended 
the  Quarterly  Meeting  for  worship  and  discipline  there,  to  good 
satisfaction.  The  Lord  was  with  us,  and  mercifully  opened  the 
way  for  the  flow  of  gospel  ministry,  to  the  praise  and  glory  of  his 
great  and  Avorthy  name. 

The  3Sth,  We  this  evening  held  a  heavenly  and  very  precious 
meeting  at  White  Haven,  for  Friends  and  others.  The  power  of 
divine  life  was  over  all,  to  the  deep  humility  of  many  souls.  Bles- 
sed Ije  the  Lord  forever! 

The  30th.  We  this  day  traveled  to  the  neighborhood  of  Brougli- 
ton,  and  on  the  next  day,  being  First-day,  we  held  a  meeting  there 
in  the  morning,  and  one  in  the  evening  at  Pardshaw.  Both  these 
meetings  were  well  attended,  and  the  spirit  of  truth  reached  many 
minds  therein,  so  that  many  precious  souls  were  humbled,  as  in 
dust  and  ashes. 

Tenth  month  1st.  We  this  morning  held  a  meeting  at  Maryport, 
for  the  few  Friends  who  reside  there,  which  was  a  good  opportunity; 
and  in  the  evening  we  held  a  meeting  at  Beckfoot,  Avhich  was  well 
attended,  and  which  was  also  much  owned  by  the  good  Shepherd. 

The  3nd.  We  had  a  meeting  this  morning  at  AUonby,  and  one 
in  the  evening  at  Bolton;  both  of  which  were  favored  with  the  in- 
struction of  the  truth. 

The  3rd.  We  held  a  small  and  trying  meeting  at  Mosedale. 
Truth,  hower,  had  some  dominion  over  the  minds  of  a  few  tender 
hearted  people. 

The  4th.  This  to  me  was  a  deeply  affecting  day.  I  this  morn- 
ing received  a  kind  and  affectionate  letter  from  my  dear  wife, 
which  informed  me  of  the  sudden  death  of  several  dear  friends  in 
my  neighborhood,  occasioned  by  the  cholera,  and  also  of  her  own 
sickness:  but  she  had  then  recovered,  and  was  enjoying  2)retty  good 
health.  This  intelligence  much  affected  me  with  brokeniiess  of 
heart  and  with  tears.  We  this  day  attended  the  service  of  the 
Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends,  held  at  Keudal,  and  found  much 
good  service  therein,  to  the  satisfaction  of  Friends. 

The  5th.  We  this  evening  held  a  good  oi)en  meeting  at  Colt- 
house.     The  truth  reigned  over  all,  to  edification. 

The  (Jth,  we  traveled  the  most  of  this  day,  and  visited  some  fami- 
lies, and  on  the  next  day  being  First-day,  we  attended  the  little 
meeting  of  Friends  at  Swarthmore  in  the  morning,  wherein  I  was 
silent,  but  some  other  dear  Friends  exercised  in  the  work  of  the 
ministry  being  present,  had  good  service.  In  the  afternoon  we  held 
a  public  meeting  at  this  place  which  was  large,  and  much  owned 
by  the  Good  Shepherd  of  Israel.  I  found  much  good  service  in  this 
meeting  to  satisfaction.  While  in  this  neighborhood  I  visited 
Swarthmore  Hall,  the  former  residence  of  Geore  Fox,  where  I  also 


190  JOURXAL   OF   THOMAS   ARXETT.  1849 

saw  his  bible,  all  which  to  me  was  a  pleasing  display  of  antiquity, 
manifesting  the  genuine  simplicity  of  that  worthy  Friend;  and 
also  his  bible,  with  the  notes  retained  therein,  manifested  his  faith- 
ful application  for  scriptural  knowledge. 

The  8th.  We  set  out  this  morning  for  the  city  of  York,  in  order 
to  attend  the  service  of  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends  to  be  held 
there,  where  we  landed  on  the  next  evening  in  time  to  be  at  the 
Quarterly  meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders,  and  on  the  two  follow- 
ing days  came  tlie  meetings  for  worship  and  discipline  ;  through 
the  whole  of  this  meeting  the  good  Shepherd  of  Israel  was  with  us 
and  granted  us  strength  and  wisdom  a  little  to  exalt  his  good  cause 
to  the  glory  of  his  great  and  worthy  name.  While  here  I  received 
the  following  affectionate  letter  from  a  friend  engaged  in  the  work 
of  the  ministry  : 

Carlisle,  10th  mo.  6th,  1849. 

My  Dear  Friend:  For  such  I  feel  that  1  may  call  thee,  though 
our  acquaintance  has  been  so  short.  Thou  hast  been  so  much  tTie 
companion  of  my  thoughts  since  I  parted  with  thee,  that  it  seems 
as  if  it  would  be  a  relief  to  my  mind  to  tell  thee  so,  and  that  being 
the  case,  I  believe  thou  wilt  excuse  the  liberty  I  take  in  addressing 
thee.  Very  earnest  have  been,  and  still  are,  the  desires  of  my 
sjDirit,  according  to  my  small  measure,  that  the  Lord  may  ever 
preserve  thee  from  all  evil,  yea,  that  he  may  ])reserve  thy  going  out 
and  thy  coming  in  from  this  time  forth,  and  even  for  evermore. 
And  may  it  please  him  abundantly  to  bless  thy  labors  of  love  in  this 
our  country,  and  give  thee  to  be  devoted  to  his  will  in  all  things, 
Avitli  the  I'eward  of  sweet  peace.  "He  that  dvvelleth  in  the  secret 
place  of  the  most  high  shall  abide  under  the  shadow  of  the  Al- 
mighty." Oh  !  may  this  be  more  and  more  our  abiding  place,  that 
so  we  may  continue  to  know  of  being  covered  as  with  his  feathers, 
and  having  our  trust  in  the  shadow  of  his  wings.  Very  precious  to 
me  was  thy  cordial  greeting  at  a  time  when  my  spirit  was  wading 
in  the  deeps  and  almost  ready  to  faint  by  the  wayside,  but  my 
heavenly  Father  has  been  pleased  since  I  saw  thee,  to  lift  up  my 
head  above  the  waters,  and  to  speak  to  the  raging  billows  ;  and  oh  I 
when  the  dear  Savior  himself  is  i)leased  to  say,  "peace,  be  still," 
how  sweet  is  the  calm.  "  Bless  the  Lord,  0  my  soul,  and  all  that 
is  within  me,  bless  his  holy  name."  I  now,  dear  friend,  do  affec- 
tionately bid  thee  farewell,  and  remain  thy  sym])athising  friend, 

Sarah  Axn  Doeg. 

The  13th.  We  this  evening  held  a  good  open  meeting  at  Ruth, 
in  a  school  house.  The  people  appeared  to  be  open  to  receive  the 
truth  in  the  love  of  it. 

The  V.M\\.  AVc  this  evening  held  a  very  interesting  meeting  at 
Aysgarth.  This  meeting  was  well  attended,  and  there  were  many 
precious  souls  present,  who  were  visited  in   the  love  of  the  gospel. 

The  14tli  being  First-day,  we  attended  Friends'  Meeting  m  the 


1849  JOUR]SrAL   OF   THOMAS    AIINETT.  191 

morning  at  Bainbridge,  wlicrcin  I  was  silent  under  deep  exercise  of 
mind,  but  my  companion  had  good  service.  In  the  evening  we  held 
a  large  public  meeting  at  this  place,  wherein  I  was  much  opened  in 
the  love  of  the  everhisting  gosi)el. 

The  loth.  We  this  evening  held  a  public,  large,  and  very  good 
meeting  at  HaAves.  I  was  much  set  at  liberty  in  this  meeting  in 
the  love  of  the  gospel. 

The  16th.  We  attended  the  General  Meeting  of  Friends  for 
Avorship,  so  called,  at  Brigflats,  which  was  a  good  meeting.  There 
Avere  several  short,  but  impressiA'C  testimonies  delivered  by  divers 
dear  friends  exercised  in  the  Avork  of  the  public  ministry. 

The  17th.  We  this  morning  held  a  public  meeting  at  Leyent, 
Avherein  we  were  favored  to  labor  in  the  love  of  the  gospel  to  good 
satisfaction,  and  on  the  next  day  we  attended  the  Monthly  Meeting 
of  Friends  at  Brigflats,  and  found  much  good  service  therein,  and 
on  the  evening  of  this  day  we  held  a  highly  favored  meeting  at 
Sedbergh,  the  truth,  in  the  love  of  it,  reigned  over  all  ;  many  pre- 
cious souls  Avere  much  broken  into  tenderness  and  dee])  humility  ; 
blessed  forever  be  the  Lord! 

The  19th.  We  this  evening  held  a  very  interesting  meeting  at 
Kendal,  for  the  youth  and  others.  I  Avas  much  opened  in  the  doc- 
trine of  Christianity  to  the  edification  of  many  precious  and  tender 
souls,  who  received  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it. 

The  SOtli.  AVe  this  day,  after  visiting  some  families  of  Friends, 
Avent  to  Carlisle,  and  the  next  day  being  First-day,  Ave  attended 
Friends'  Meeting  there  in  the  morning,  and  held  in  the  evening  a 
large  public  meeting  ;  in  both  these  meetings  Ave  Avere  much  opened 
in  the  love  of  the  gospel.  In  the  prosecution  of  this  great  Avork  in 
the  ministry  of  the  word  noAv  before  me,  the  mighty  hand  of  God 
is  often  upon  me,  and  his  billoAA's  go  over  my  head,  so  that  I  am 
frequently  plunged  doAvn  into  deep  baptisms;  Avherein  I,  in  seeing 
the  vanity  and  various  temptations  in  this  Avorld,  often  do  cry  out 
under  much  discouragement  in  this  language,  "  0,  Lord,  take  my 
life,  for  I  am  not  better  than  my  fathers  ; "  but  he  said  to  me,  "  My 
grace  is  suflicient  for  thee  :  for  my  strength  is  made  perfect  in 
weakness."  "  I  am  with  thee,  and  thy  name  is  written  in  my  book 
of  life."  I  saAv  the  great  necessity  of  renewed  strict  watchfulness 
unto  prayer  daily,  keeping  "under  my  body,"  and  bringing  "it 
into  subjection  ;  lest  that  by  any  means,  Avhen  I  have  preached  to 
others,  I  myself  should  be  a  castaway."  I  said,  while  under  these 
deep  exercises,  "  Set  a  Avatch,  0  Lord,  before  my  mouth  ;  keep  the 
door  of  my  lips,"  and  in  the  light  of  divine  truth  this  language 
saluted  the  ear  of  my  spirit,  "  Watch  thou  in  all  things,  endure 
afflictions,  do  the  work  of  an  evangelist,  make  full  proof  of  thy 
ministry."  In  my  desire  for  entire  perfection,  I  Avould  often  cry 
out,  "  In  the  way  of  thy  judgments,  O  Lord,  have"  /  "  waited  for 
thee,  the  desire  oi" my  "soul  is  to  thy  name,   and  to  the  remem- 


192  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  1^9 

brance  of  thee  ;  with  my  soul  have  I  desired  thee  in  the  night,  yea, 
with  my  spirit  within  me  will  I  seek  thee  early."  I  cried  earnestly 
to  my  God  for  preservation  on  every  hand.     I  said,  preserve  me, 

0  my  God,  and  deliver  me  from  all  my  enemies,  both  within  and 
without,  for  thou  knowest  them  all,  and  seest  their  snares,  even 
before  they  are  laid  ;  give  me  to  see,  and  strength  to  shun  them  all, 
both  on  the  right  hand  and  on  the  left,  even  unto  the  end,  that  so 

1  may  be  enabled  to  bring  honor  and  praise  unto  thy  great  and 
worthy  name  through  all  the  remaining  part  of  my  days  here,  and 
unite  with  those  wlio,  in  unceasing  anthems,  sing  thy  everlasting 
praise  beyond  the  grave. 

The  22nd.  I  spent  this  day  quietly  and  alone,  in  writing  and 
meditation,  and  on  the  next  day  I  wrote  in  gospel  love  a  very 
affectionate  letter  to  my  dear  wife,  and  in  the  evening  held  a  large 
and  open  meeting  at  Stanwin,  a  village  near  Carlisle:  and  on  the 
24th,  in  the  morning,  we  set  out  for  Cornwood,  where  we  arrived 
in  time  to  attend  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends  held  there,  which 
was  small,  and  in  the  evening  we  held  a  public  meeting  there, 
which  was  well  attended;  this  was  a  day  of  much  divine  favor 
with  us. 

The  25th.  We  traveled  this  morning  through  the  I'uin  about 
twelve  miles  in  a  common  open  rough  cart  to  Alstom,  where  in 
the  evening  we  held  a  good  open  meeting  in  the  Methodist  meet- 
ing house.  There  were  many  serious  and  well  concerned  souls 
present,  who  were  visited  in  gosiael  love  to  humility  and  edification 
of  spirit;  truth  reigned  over  all  in  the  demonstration  of  the  spirit 
and  with  power. 

The  26th.  We  this  evening  held  a  good  and  ])recious  meeting 
at  Allendale.  The  people  generally  attended  with  open  hearts  to 
receive  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it,  and  under  the  blessed  influence 
thereof  they  were  much  broken  down  into  tenderness  and  humility 
of  spirit. 

The  27th.  We  this  day  went  to  Newcastle  upon  Tyne,  and 
the  next  day  being  First-day,  we  attended  Friends'  meeting  there 
in  the  morning,  which  was  large,  and  in  which  I  was  silent  under 
deep  exercise  of  mind.  I  rcnewedly  felt,  with  fear  and  trembling, 
the  great  necessity  of  moving  alone  in  divine  ability  in  the  great 
work  of  the  ministry  of  the  word;  my  companion  had  good  ser- 
vice in  this  meeting.  In  the  evening  we  held  a  public  meeting 
which  was  largely  attended,  and  which  was  favored  with  much  re- 
ligious feeling.  I  was  drawn  in  the  love  of  the  gospel  to  a  little 
illustrate  the  great  doctrine  of  Christian  redemption. 

While  here  I  received  the  following  affectionate  letter  from  a 
Friend  of  my  own  neighborliood  : 


1849  JOUKKAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT,  193 

Waynesville,  9th  mo.  30tli,  1849. 
My  Endeared  Friend: 

After  procrastinating,  I  may  sa}^  almost  for  weeks  past,  I  have  at 
length  commenced  penning  a  few  lines  to  tliee,  and  I  can  say  in 
truth  that  thon  hast  been  for  some  time  past  daily  in  mind,  and  at 
last  so  much  so  that  I  could  not  well  defer  writing  to  thee  any  longer. 
I  have  felt  for  thou  on  account  of  hearing  from  every  account  re- 
ceived of  thy  continued  poor  health.  The  last  that  has  come  to  hand 
affords  some  ground  to  hope  that  thy  health  is  improving.  I  had. 
all  along  cherished  a  hope  that  thou  wouldst  be  graciously  favored 
by  our  dear  Master  with  health  of  body  and  mind,  to  spend  and  be 
spent  in  his  service,  what  may  be  allotted  for  thee  to  do  in  those 
distant  parts,  from  the  land  of  our  birth,  and  when  that  shall  be 
accomplished,  that  tliou  shouldst  be  favored  to  return  to  us  again 
with  a  peaceful  mind.  Should  the  result  be  otherwise,  resignation 
on  our  parts  ought  to  be  sought  for  in  the  firm  conviction  that  the 
Judge  of  all  the  earth  will  do  right;  and  should  thou  be  permitted 
in  due  time  to  return  to  our  meeting,  there  will  be  no  certainty  of 
thy  meeting  all  those  Friends  that  thou  hast  left  behind;  that  has 
already  been  reduced  to  a  certainty,  for  some  are  already  gone  from 
whence  they  will  not  return.  The  shafts  of  death  have  shot  through 
our  land,  or  the  messenger  of  death  has  been  sent  calling  more  of 
the  citizens  of  our  neighborhood  from  time  to  eternity  than  I  ever 
knew  in  the  same  space  of  time;  and  it  has  not  been  confined  to 
our  neighborhood,  but  to  many  others,  many  by  the  cholera,  and 
many  by  perluips  a  complication  of  diseases,  with  symptoms  of 
cholera  and  dysentery,  mingled  with  fever,  though  the  cholera  has 
done  the  most.  I  would  descend  more  to  jDarticulars,  but  I  think 
likely  that  thy  dear  wife  or  some  other  hand  may  have  done  so 
before  me,  as  she  has.  I  learn,  written  to  thee  recently.  And  now  in 
the  feelings  of  near  affection  to  thee,  I  will  bring  my  letter  to  a 
close.  Mayest  thou  be  preserved  on  every  hand,  and  attend  simply 
to  the  putting  forth  of  the  Master's  finger,  pointing  out  the  path 
for  thee  to  pursue  from  day  to  day.  Thomas  Evaks. 

The  29tli.  We  this  evening  held  a  heavenly  meeting  for  Friends 
and  others  at  Benfieldside,  which  was  well  attended,  and  in  which 
the  gospel  was  preached  to  demonstration  and  with  power,  to  good 
satisfaction. 

The  30th.  We  this  morning  held  a  precious  and  favored  meet- 
ing at  Wallsend,  in  the  Methodist  meeting  house.  Many  souls 
were  visited  in  the  love  of  the  gospel,  to  humility  and  edification. 

The  31st.  We  this  morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at 
North  Shields,  and  in  the  evening  we  held  a  public  meeting  there 
to  good  satisfaction;  the  Lord  was  with  us  this  day  and  gave  us 
strength  and  wisdom  for  the  Avork  of  the  day. 

11th  mo.  1st.     We  this  morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends 


194  JOUKXAL   OF   THOMAS    ARXf:TT.  im 

at  Siuiderlancl,  as  it  came  in  course,  in  which  I  was  silent^,  but  my 
companion  had  good  service.  In  the  evening  we  held  a  large  pub- 
lic meeting  there  to  good  satisfaction;  the  power  of  truth  was  very 
near,  and  granted  me  strength  and  wisdom  to  labor  to  the  edifica- 
tion of  the  people. 

The  3nd.  We  this  morning  held  a  pretty  good  meeting  at  Dur- 
ham. The  people  I  thought  came  together  very  much  in  the  out- 
ward, but  at  length  the  truth  gained  some  ascendency  over  them, 
so  that  I  hope  that  some  serious  impression  was  formed  among  them 
to  lasting  benefit. 

The  3rd.  Again  returned  to  Newcastle  upon  Tync,  and  the 
next  day  being  First-day,  attended  again  Friends  meeting  there  in 
the  morning,  wherein  I  was  much  opened  in  the  love  of  the  gospel 
to  good  satisfaction;  and  in  the  evening  we  held  a  large  and  satis- 
factory meeting  at  Gateshead,  in  the  Methodist  meeting  house. 
The  people  were  serious  and  attentive,  and  appeared  to  receive  the 
gospel  in  the  love  of  it. 

The  5th.  I  spent  this  day  quietly  and  alone,  in  writing  and  in 
religious  meditation,  and  on  the  next  day,  in  the  evening,  we  held  a 
meeting  at  Howdon,  in  the  Independent  meeting  house.  The  peo- 
ple were  serious  and  attentive,  and  appeared  to  receive  what  was  de- 
livered in  the  spirit  of  true  Christian  love. 

The  7th.  We  this  morning  attended  Friends'  meeting  again  in 
Newcastle  upon  Tyne,  which  was,  through  divine  love,  made  a  good 
season;  and  in  the  evening  we  held  a  very  good  meeting  at  South 
Shields,  in  the  Independent  Chapel — so  called.  There  were  many 
serious  minded  peojile  in  this  meeting,  who  received  the  truth  in 
the  love  of  it. 

The  8th.  We  this  morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at 
North  Shields,  as  it  came  in  course,  which  was  a  good,  precious  sea- 
son, and  in  the  evening  we  held  a  large  and  deeply  interesting 
meeting  at  Delaval,  in  the  Methodist  meeting  house.  The  power 
of  truth  was  over  all  in  this  meeting.  Praised  forever  be  the  Lord, 
for  he  is  alone  worthy  I 

The  two  following  days  I  spent  quietly  and  alone,  in  reading, 
writing  and  meditation,  and  on  the  11th,  being  First-day,  we  again 
attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at  Sunderland,  which  was,  through 
divine  mercy,  made  a  good  season;  and  in  the  evening  we  held  a 
very  large  meeting  there,  in  a  large  and  fine  chapel  belonging  to  the 
Methodists.  It  was  thought  that  upwards  of  three  thousand  people 
were  in  attendance.  The  meeting  held  about  two  hours,  during 
which  time,  under  the  authority  of  the  ministry  of  the  word  of  the 
gospel,  which  llowed  freely,  a  remarkable  solemnity  prevailed  over 
the  whole  congregation.  Many  souls  in  this  meeting  were  reached 
and  gathered  to  the  fountain  of  life  and  salvation  under  the  power 
of  the  everlasting  truth.  All  the  praise  be  forever  given  to  God, 
who  alone  is  worthy  I 


1849  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    A  I{  \  ETT.  19") 

The  l^th.  We  this  morning  held  rutlier  a  trying  meeting  at 
Hexham  in  the  Methodist  meeting-house.  Tlie  ])eople  in  the  fore- 
part of  the  meeting  were  much  unsettled  in  mind,  I)ut  at  length 
truth  arose  in  degree,  and  they  became  more  settled,  so  that  the 
meeting  ended  pretty  veil. 

The  13th.  I  found  it  to  be  necessary  to  devote  this  day  to  rest, 
and  to  the  administration  of  a  little  medicine,  my  health  being 
poor,  which  was  improved  by  such  application,  and  on  the  next 
d.iy,  in  the  evening,  we  held  a  highly  interesting  ;ind  favored  meet- 
ing in  Salem  chapel,  a  Methodist  meeting-house,  at  Newcastle 
upon  Tyne.  The  testimony  of  truth  went  fortli  in  tlie  demonstration 
of  the  spirit  and  with  power,  and  on  the  loth  we  again  attended 
the  meeting  of  Friends  there,  to  very  good  satisfaction  ;  the  Lord 
was  with  us  and  enabled  us  to  labor  to  the  edification  of  his  devoted 
people. 

The  IGtli  I  spent  much  alone,  in  writing  and  religious  medita- 
tion, the  mighty  hand  of  God  being  in  some  degree  upon  me,  so 
that  I  was  deeply  humbled  before  him  in  baptism,  as  in  dust  and 
ashes,  in  which  I  renewedly  earnestly  desired  to  be  devoted  to  his 
holy  and  blessed  will  in  all  things. 

While  we  were  in  and  about  Newcastle  u])on  Tyne,  laboring  in 
the  gospel,  we  were  very  kindly  entertained  at  the  house  of  our 
dear  Friend,  George  Ricdiardson,  and  his  son  and  daughter.  He 
is  a  valuable  and  experienced  minister  among  Friends,  and  his 
dear  children  are  worthy  Frieuds.  We  particijxited  in  their  tender 
Christian  sympathy,  whereby  we  were  strengthened  and  encour- 
aged to  hold  on  in  the  good  old  way,  so  as  to  look  alone  for  wis- 
dom and  utterance  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  to  the  author  and 
finisher  of  our  faith,  to  whom  belongs  all  the  praise  and  glory 
now  and  forever. 

The  17th.  We  this  morning  left  Newcastle  upon  'i'yne  for  Dar- 
lington, where  we  were  very  kindly  received  by  our  dear  and  worthy 
Friend,  Edward  Fente,  who  is  an  experienced  elder  among  Friends, 
and  where  many  other  dear  Friends  also  manifested  the  warmest 
friendshiji  toward  us.  And  the  next  day  being  First-day,  we  at- 
tended Friends'  meeting  in  the  morning,  and  in  the  evening  we 
held  a  large  public  meeting.  In  both  these  meetings  the  good 
spirit  was  with  us,  and  granted  us  strength  and  wisdom  to  labor 
to  the  glory  of  the  great  name  and  to  the  peace  of  our  own 
minds. 

The  19th.  We  this  morning  held  a  pleasant  and  good  meeting 
at  Cotherstone,  and  in  the  evening  we  held  a  good  open  and  highly 
favored  meeting  at  Barnard  Castle,  in  the  Methodist  chapel,  where 
the  i)ower  of  the  everlasting  truth  was  over  all. 

The  30th.  We  this  morning  had  a  meeting  at  Staindrop,  and 
07ie  in  the  evening  at  New  Shildon.  Both  these  meetings  were 
baptizing  seasons.  Many  precious  souls  were  broken  down  into 
much  tenderness. 


196  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AllXETT.  184!> 

The  ;ilst.  We  this  day  held  a  small  but  good  meeting  at  Bishop 
Auckland,  where  we  were  enabled  to  labor  to  good  satisfaction;. 
and  in  the  evening  I  received  the  deeply  affecting  intelligence 
from  home  of  the  death  of  my  dear  nephew,  a  worthy  young  nian^ 
and  also  of  the  sickness  of  my  dear  wife,  Avho  had  been  brought 
low  through  bodily  indisposition,  but  was  some  better.  On  receiv- 
ing this  account  all  within  me  was  very  tenderly  moved  toward  her, 
I  supidicated  the  everlasting  God  to  have  mercy  on  her,  earnestly 
desiring  that  his  will  in  all  things  concerning  us  may  be  done. 

The  2'^nd.  We  this  day  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at 
Ayton,  and  also  visited  the  school  under  the  care  of  Friends  there, 
to  good  satisfaction. 

The  23d.  We  this  morning  held  a  small  but  interesting  meeting 
at  Osmotherly,  and  in  the  evening  we  held  a  precious  and  good 
meeting  at  North  Allenton,  in  the  Methodist  chapel.  The  people 
were  much  humbled  under  the  mighty  power  of  truth. 

The  24:th.  We  rested  the  most  of  this  day,  and  in  the  evening, 
we  went  to  Stockton,  and  the  next  day  being  First-day,  we  attended 
Friends'  meeting  there  in  the  morning,  and  in  the  evening  we  held 
a  large  public  meeting  there.  The  good  spirit  was  with  us  this  day 
and  eiuibled  us  to  labor  to  edification  and  to  the  peace  of  our  own 
minds. 

The  26th.  We  this  evening  held  a  good  and  precious  meeting  at 
Middlesbro,  in  the  Independent  chapel,  and  on  the  next  day  we  at- 
tended Darlington  Monthly  Meeting,  where  we  found  many  worthy 
and  valuable  Friends,  among  whom  we  labored  in  the  gospel  to  their 
satisfaction  and  to  the  peace  of  our  own  minds. 

The  28th  I  spent  much  alone  in  resting,  writing  and  meditation, 
feeling  quiet  and  resigned  in  the  spirit  of  my  mind  in  all  things. 

AVhile  here  I  rereived  the  following  affectionate  letter  from  a 
dear  Friend. 

Liverpool,  11th  mo.  24th,  1849. 

My  Dear  Friend :  By  a  note  from  our  friend  Edward  Pejise, 
to  my  husband,  received  last  evening,  containing  the  account  of  the 
removal  by  death  of  thy  dear  nephew,  and  also  the  indisposition  of 
thy  dear  Avife,  our  tenderest  sympathy  was  awakened  for  thee  my 
beloved  friend  ;  but  I  believe  thou  knowest  where  and  to  whom  tO' 
look  for  comfort  and  consolation  in  these  seasons  of  deep  trial, 
which  are  greatly  increased  by  being  widely  sejiarated  from  those 
we  love.  I  think  I  can  speak  from  some  dx'gree  of  experience, 
having  been  called  upon  to  resign  a  beloved  mother  and  sister,  with 
other  dear  relatives  and  friends,  without  the  sacred  j)rivilege  of 
watching  around  the  dying  jullow  and  soothing  the  spirit  as  it  fled 
to  the  mansions  of  eternal  rest  and  peace.  But  oh  I  my  dear  friend, 
whilst  nature  cannot  cease  to  mourn  for  the  dead  beloved,  and  the 
tear  of  sweet  affection  shed  wiien  the  sad  reality  presses  upon  the 
mind  that  the  cord  which  bound  us  so  closely  here  on  earth  is. 


1849  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  197 

severed  link  by  link,  and  that  the  places  which  have  known  them 
sliall  know  them  no  more;  but  what  an  unspeakable  mercy  it 
is  to  believe  that  they  are  gone  where  "sin  can  never  taint  them 
more,  nor  doubt  their  faith  assail/'  "nor  this  meek  trust  in  Jesus 
Christ  nor  the  Holy  Spirit  fail."  And  what  a  mercy  also,  my  dear 
friend,  to  feel  that  there  is  balm  in  Gilead,  which  can  heal  the 
wounded  heart,  and  a  physician  there  who  can  bind  up  that  which 
he  has  broken.  May  he  be  pleased  to  be  very  near  for  thy  help 
and  support.  And  oh!  my  friend,  when  we  are  thus  bound  down 
under  the  weight  of  our  trials,  afHictions  and  burdens,  of  what- 
ever character  they  may  be,  when  the  poor  heart  is  ready  to  faint 
beneatli  its  trial,  may  we  endeavor  to  look  in  humble,  confiding 
faith  to  that  blessed  Saviour  who  is  pleased  to  remember  us  in  all 
our  afflictions,  and  who  is  afflicted  with  us  ;  keei)ing  a  single  eye 
to  our  heavenly  guide,  who  safely  leads  the  weary  pilgrim  to  the 
promised  land,  the  glorious  end,  where,  to  the  righteous  and  faith- 
ful ones,  all  will  be  joy  and  praise.  But  oh  my  dear  friend, 
whilst  I  thus  write  to  thee,  believing  thou  hast  had  a  foretaste  of 
these  joys,  yet  my  soul  is  often  sick  and  beset  from  within  and 
Avithout  by  the  cruel  enemy  of  all  peace,  who  is  ever  laying  his 
baits  in  various  ways  to  cast  down  and  discourage,  and  sometimes  a 
fear  clothes  my  spirit  that  I  shall  not  hold  out  to  the  end  of  the 
race.  Then  again  I  am  greatly  cheered  and  comforted  in  the  re- 
membrance that  jny  blessed  Saviour  died  for  and  ever  livetli  to  make 
intercession  for  such  a  poor  unworthy  worm  of  the  dust  as  thy 
friend,  who  is,  in  much  affection,  thy  truly  sympathizing  friend, 
earnestly  desiring  to  commend  thee  to  the  care  of  Israel's  Shepherd. 
Farewell  in  the  everlasting  truth,  Susan  M.  Tpiompson. 

The  29th.  We  this  day  held  a  small  but  interesting  meeting  at 
Ouisborough,  where  we  were  favored  to  labor  in  the  gospel  to  the 
peace  of  our  own  minds  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  Friends. 

The  30th.  We  this  morning  held  a  small  and  rather  a  trying 
meeting  at  Castleton,  where  we  found  much  luke-warmness  with 
Friends,  for  the  removal  of  which  we  labored,  we  thought  to  some 
good  eifect.  In  the  evening  we  held  a  large  public  meeting  at 
Whitby  ;  the  people  were  quiet  and  serious,  and  manifested  a  dis- 
position to  receive  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it.  Our  minds  were 
much  opened  in  this  meeting,  to  our  own  peace  and  to  the  honor  of 
the  everlasting  truth. 

Twelfth  month  1st.  We  traveled  on  this  day  to  Scarborough, 
where  we  were  kindly  received  and  entertained  by  our  dear  and 
worthy  friend,  Richard  F.  Foster,  a  valuable  and  experienced  min- 
ister of  our  Society.  And  the  next  day  being  First-day,  we  at- 
tended Friends'  meeting  there  in  the  morning,  wherein  I  was 
silent  under  very  comfortable  feeling  ;  but  my  companion  found 
much  good  service  for  the  Lord,  so  that  this  was  a  good  meeting  to 
many  souls.     In  the  evening  we  held  a  public  meeting  there  which 


198  JOURXAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  m» 

was  well  attended,  and  the  mighty  power  of  God  was  overall. 
Many  souls  Avere  melted  down  into  tenderness,  and  many  tears 
were  shed;  one  woman  cried  out  with  tears  and  said,  "I  am  broken 
to  pieces,  I  hope  this  jnecting  will  be  a  blessing  to  my  husband." 
This  meeting  will  long  be  remembered  by  many  for  good.  It  was 
closed  with  prayer  and  thanksgiving  to  the  Father  of  all  our  sure 
mercies. 

The  3rd.  We  this  evening  held  a  large  meeting  at  Herbymoor- 
side.  The  baptizing  power  of  the  Lord  Avas  felt  to  be  over  this 
meeting,  under  the  melting  influence  of  Avhich  all  who  were  present 
Avere  hushed  down  into  profound  stilhiess.  The  gospel  Avas  preached 
in  the  demonstration  of  the  spirit  and  Avith  power  ;  every  soul  in 
the  meeting  was  visited,  the  sincere  Avere  encouraged,  and  sinners 
were  warned  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come. 

The  4th.  We  this  morning  held  a  good  open  meeting  at  Picker- 
ing, Avhere  the  Lord's  power  Avas  over  all.  The  sincere  Avere  much 
encouraged  to  hold  on  their  way  to  liappiness,  and  sinners  Avere 
called  to  repentance  and  self-denial. 

Li  the  evening  we  held  a  public  meeting  at  Malton,  wliich  was  a 
good  meeting  till  the  latter  part  thereof,  when  a  young  Avoman 
fainted,  which  so  much  disturbed  the  meeting  that  the  flow  of  gos- 
pel ministry  was  so  much  obstructed  that  I  tiiought  it  right  to  take 
my  seat,  and  after  a  suitable  pause  to  close  the  meeting.  The  peo- 
ple, however,  appeared  to  be  humble  and  thankful.  On  the  next 
day  we  Avere  at  their  usual  mid-Aveek  meeting,  as  it  came  in  course, 
and  were  much  comforted  in  being  Avith  Friends  of  this  meeting. 
In  the  afternoon  we  went  to  Hull,  and  on  the  6th  we  attended  the 
Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends  there,  and  held  a  public  meeting  in 
the  evening      Both  these  meetings  Avere  seasons  of  refreshment. 

The  Tth.  We  this  morning  held  a  public  meeting  at  Selby, 
which  was  mnch  owned  by  him  who  liveth  forever  and  ever,  and 
who  preserves  his  saints  to  the  glory  of  his  Avorthy  name. 

The  8th.  We  this  day  Avent  to  Wakefield,  and  the  next  day  be- 
ing First-day,  we  attended  Friends'  meeting  there  in  the  morning, 
through  which  I  sat  in  suffering  silence  ;  and  in  the  evening  we 
held  a  jiublic  nu'eting  there,  Avhieli  was  largely  attended,  and  which 
was  eminently  owned  and  crowned  with  the  life  of  the  everlasting 
gos])el,  under  blessed  influence  of  which  many  })recious  souls  were 
visited  and  much  humbled  as  in  dust  and  ashes. 

The  10th.  We  tliis  evening  held  a  very  interesting  meeting  at 
Newbury.  The  people  were  gathered  down  into  stillness,  and  the 
way  opened  for  the  flow  of  gospel  ministry  to  edification. 

The  11th.  Our  service  this  day  Avas  that  of  holding  a  public 
meeting  this  evening  at  Worldale,  which  Avas  Avell  attended,  and 
the  power  of  the  CA^erlasting  truth  ])revailed  OA'er  many  minds  to 
deep  humility. 

Tiie  12tli.      We    this   evening   held   a    public  meeting   at   High 


1849  JOUKNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKNETT.  199 

Flatts,  which  was,  through  the  interposition  of  divine  love,  made  a 
good  and  refreshing  season.     Blessed  be  God! 

The  13th.  We  this  morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends 
at  Barnsley,  as  it  came  in  course,  which  was  a  good  meeting.  In 
the  evening  we  held  a  large  and  open  meeting  there  in  the  Metho- 
dist chapel,  where  the  power  of  the  Lord  was  over  all,  to  the  edifi- 
cation of  many  precious  souls. 

The  14th.  We  this  evening  held  a  deeply  interesting  meeting  at 
Pontefract  ;  the  power  of  the  eternal  trutli  was  over  all,  and  every 
soul  appeared  to  be  humbled  down  as  into  dust  and  ashes.  Blessed 
be  the  Lord! 

The  15th.  We  traveled  this  day  to  Sheffield,  and  the  next  day 
being  First-day,  we  attended  Friends' meeting  there  in  the  morning, 
which  was  a  comfortable  season,  and  in  the  evening  we  held  a  large 
public  meeting  there,  in  which  I  was  much  set  at  liberty  in  the  il- 
lustration of  the  peaceable  nature  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  to  the 
edification  of  many. 

The  17th.  I  this  day  received  the  following  very  kind  and 
affectionate  letter  from  my  dear  and  loving  wife,  for  which  I  was 
thankful. 

Waynesville,  11th  mo.  21,  1849. 

My  Dear  Husband:  Though  I  have  been  very  much  afflicted 
since  I  wrote  to  thee  the  last  time,  yet  I  am  noiv  happy  to  inform 
thee  that  my  health  has  much  improved.  I  am  now  able  to  be 
about  the  house  and  sit  up  all  day,  and  my  friends  say  that  I  look 
quite  natural,  considering  the  length  of  time  that  I  was  sick  and 
the  manner  in  which  I  was  held.  My  dear,  no  doubt  but  thou  hast 
heard  of  our  great  loss  and  affliction,  yet  I  will  speak  of  it.  Our 
dear  nephew  was  taken  with  a  very  severe  diarrhea  on  the  22d  of 
9th  mo.  last.  He  called  medical  aid  immediately,  but  to  no  last- 
ing good  effect,  though  many  times  through  medicine  relief  was 
given  for  the  time  being.  He  was  confined  about  one  month,  and 
suffered  very  much,  which  he  endured  with  much  patience,  and 
was  very  thoughtful,  frequently  asking  to  have  a  suitable  portion  of 
the  Holy  Scriptures  to  be  read  to  him,  which  was  attended  to.  He 
passed  away  very  quietly,  and  we  believe  that  he  went  to  everlast- 
ing rest.  His  funeral  was  largely  attended,  and  a  solemn  meeting 
for  divine  worship  was  held  on  the  occasion,  and  several  living  tes- 
timonies were  delivered  by  concerned  Friends.  I  feel  tiie  loss  of 
him  to  be  very  great,  and  many  others  in  some  degree  feel  sensi- 
ble of  the  same  loss.  But  0,  let  us  not  murmur,  but  let  us  say  in 
truth,  "  The  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath  taken  away;  blessed 
be  the  name  of  the  Lord !  " 

I  was  taken  sick  one  week  after  our  dear  nephew  was  taken  sick, 
with  the  same  disease,  though  held  differently.  I  suffered  ex- 
tremely ;  was  confined  to  my  bed  and  room  six  weeks,  and  was 
taken  through  a  severe  course  of  medicine.     I  did  not  see  our  dear 


200  JOTRXAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  1849 

nepliow  from  the  time  of  my  confinement  till  his  remains  were 
bronght  to  m}'  bed-side  on  the  day  of  his  funeral,  Miiich  thou 
knowest  was  indeed  a  very  deep,  sore,  heart-melting  trial  to  me,  as 
he  had  been  so  very  kind  to  me  since  I  parted  with  thee.  Thou 
knowest  that  I  was  left  very  much  under  his  care,  but  now  he  is 
gone  to  his  long  home. 

There  are  many  inquiries  after  thee  by  many  dear  friends,  who 
do  very  much  desire  thy  encouragement  in  every  good  word  and 
work.  I  do  earnestly  desire  thy  preservation  on  every  hand,  to  the 
glory  and  honor  of  him  who  separated  thee  from  me,  under  this 
engagement,  to  promote  his  cause  of  truth  and  righteousness  in 
the  earth.  May  he  bless  thee  to  the  glory  of  his  worthy  name! 
And  let  us  often  be  found  at  the  throne  of  grace  pouring  out  our 
souls  in  prayer  and  supplicu'tion  before  him.  I  now  bid  thee  fare- 
well. "  Eachel  Arnett. 

In  the  evening  we  held  a  good  and  precious  meeting  at  Wood- 
house,  in  the  Methodist  Chapel ;  the  Lord's  baptizing  power  was 
over  this  meeting  to  the  humility  and  edification  of  many  minds. 

The  18th.  We  this  evening  held  a  meeting  at  Thorn,  which  in 
the  f'jre  part  was  a  low  time,  but  at  length  truth  arose  in  complete 
dominion,  every  soul  appeared  to  be  hushed  down  into  true  still- 
ness and  silence,  and  the  meeting  closed  with  prayer  to  good  satis- 
faction. 

The  19th.  We  this  morning  attended  the  mid-week  meeting  of 
Friends,  as  it  came  in  course,  at  Doncaster,  and  in  the  evening  held 
a  public  meeting  there  to  good  satisfaction.  The  Lord  was  with  us 
this  day  and  gave  us  wisdom  and  strength  to  do  his  work  to  satis- 
faction. 

The  20th.  We  this  day  attended  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends 
at  Sheffield,  which,  through  divine  love,  was  made  a  precious  and 
heavenly  season. 

The '-i  1st.  We  this  evening  held  a  very  interesting  meeting  at 
Wath,  in  the  Methodist  chapel.  It  was  well  attended  by  serious 
minded  people,  who  received  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it.  Blessed 
be  the  Lord  I 

The  22x1(1.  We  went  this  day  to  Ackworth  school,  a  very  inter- 
esting institution  of  our  religious  Society,  for  the  education  of 
Friends'  children  ;  and  the  next  day  being  First-day,  we  attended 
Friends'  Meeting  there  in  the  morning,  wherein  I  was  drawn  to  ad- 
dress the  students  of  this>school  in  gospel  love  to  satisfaction,  there 
being  about  three  hundred  males  and  females  of  this  class  in  at- 
tendance. While  here,  in  visiting  the  various  departments  of  this 
school,  I  was  much  humbled  in  believing  that  this  is  a  garden  from. 
which  many  blessings,  under  the  divine  hand,  have  been  dissemina- 
ted, in  many  instances  to  our  religious  society.  In  the  evening  we 
held  a  public  meeting  there  to  very  good  satisfaction.  Blessed  for- 
ever be  the  name  of  God  I 


1850  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  ^(»1 

The  24111.  I  this  morning  very  affectionately  parted  with  my 
dear  friend  Russel  Jeffrey,  who  "has  been  for  some  time  very  ac- 
ceptably my  companion  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  he  feeling  his 
mind  turned  homeward.  While  he  was  with  me  he  found  much 
good  service  for  the  Lord  in  the  gospel.  He  was  oftentimes  par- 
ticularly favored  \vith  public  prayer  and  supplication,  to  the  humility 
of  many  minds.  I  this  day  also  wrote  a  tender  and  affectionate 
letter  to  my  dear  wife,  feeling  my  mind  renewedly  turned  toward 
her  in  that  love  which  united  us  together  in  the  solemn  engage- 
ment of  marriage. 

The  25th.  I  this  day  went  in  company  with  several  friends  to 
the  city  of  York,  in  order  to  attend  the  service  of  Friends'  Quar- 
terly Meeting  there,  which  was,  under  divine  mercy,  made  a  good 
season:  and  after  the  service  thereof  was  over,  I  held  on  the  evening 
of  the  27th  a  public  meeting  in  tiiis  city,  which  was  well  attended, 
and  much  favored  with  the  doctrine  of  the  everlasting  truth. 

The  28th.  I  this  morning  went  in  company  with  my  dear  friend 
and  valued  minister  of  the  gospel,  Richard  F.  Foster,  of  Scarbor- 
ough, to  the  neighborhood  of  Darley,  and  on  the  30th,  being  First- 
day,  we  attended  Friends'  Meeting  there  in  the  morning,  and  m 
the  evening  held  a  public  meeting  at  Harrogate  in  a  public  town 
hall.  Both  these  meetings  were  well  attended,  and  owned  by  him 
who  preserves  and  sustains  his  faithful  ministers  to  the  glory  and 
honor  of  his  worthy  name. 

The  31st.  We  this  morning  held  a  very  interesting  meeting  at 
xVddingham,  in  the  Methodist  chapel,  wherein  our  minds  were  ten- 
derly drawn  in  gospel  love  to  encourage  the  righteous  in  well-doing, 
and  to  warn  sinners  to  flee  from  the  wratli  to  come. 

First  month  first,  1850.  This  was  a  very  solemn  and  impressive 
time  with  me.  I  entered  into  a  very  impartial  scrutiny  in  regard 
to  mv  past  life,  and  while  I  had  cause  to  mourn  over  mine  infirma- 
ties,  m  many  instances,  yet  I  had  cause  to  acknowledge  the  mercy 
and  protection  of  that  worthy  Being  of  whom  the  whole  family  is 
named  in  the  heaven  and  the  earth  ;  and  I  earnestly  desired  ever  to 
live  nigh  him  and  near  to  his  people  while  in  this  tribulated  world, 
that  I  may  enjoy  him  and  the  society  of  the  holy  angels  and  the 
saints  in  light  in  the  good  world  to  come.  Blessed  be  his  name  for- 
ever I 

We  this  evening  held  a  precious  and  interesting  meeting  at  the 
village  of  Akley,  near  Benshydding,  where  we  lodged  for  a  few 
days  for  the  sake  of  the  imjjrovement  of  our  health.  The  meeting 
was  held  in  the  Methodist  chapel,  and  those  who  attended  were  - 
serious  minded  people,  and  they  received  the  truth  in  the  lovcA 
of  it.  .  / 

The  2nd  we   spent  in  quietness  and  meditation  at  our  lodgyng 
place,  feeling  true  peace  of  mind. 

The  3rd..     We  this  evening  had  a  pretty  good  meeting  at   Kaw- 


202  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKNETT.  IS-V) 

don.     The  good  spirit  was  with  us,  whereby  we  were  enabled  to  la- 
bor in  the  gospel  to  satisfaction. 

The  4th.  ^Ye  this  evening  held  a  good  open  meeting  at  Skipton, 
in  a  public  school-house,  which  was  well  attended,  and  the  people 
appeared  to  receive  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it. 

The  5th.  We  this  day  went  to  Settle,  and  the  next  day  being 
First-day,  we  attended  Friends'  meeting  there  in  the  morning, 
which  was  a  small  but  good  meeting  ;  and  in  the  afternoon  we  held 
a  public  meeting  there,  which  was  well  attended,  and  the  doctrine 
of  truth  Avent  forth  freely,  to  the  humility  and  edification  of  many 
precious  minds. 

The  7th.  We  this  evening  held  a  public  meeting  at  Airton, 
where  the  i)0Aver  of  truth  liad  the  ascendency  over  a  light-minded 
company  of  people,  who  assembled  in  a  vain  disposition  of  mind^ 
but  many  of  them  were  much  broken  down  in  spirit,  and  went 
away  under  the  conviction  of  the  everlasting  truth. 

The  8th.  We  this  evening  held  a  good  open  public  meeting  at 
Lothersdale,  where  the  warning  of  truth  went  forth  to  demonstr;t- 
tion  and  to  the  edification  of  many  minds  ;  and  on  the  next  day  we 
attended  Friend's  meeting  at  Marsdon,  as  it  came  in  course,  which 
was  a  small  but  a  very  good  and  interesting  meeting. 

The  10th.  We  this  evening  held  a  public  meeting  at  Todmor- 
don,  which  in  the  fore  j^art  was  rather  a  low  time;  but  truth  at 
length  arose  into  dominion,  so  that  the  meeting  ended  to  very  good 
satisfaction. 

The  11th.  We  this  evening  held  a  meeting  at  Colne,  in  tlie 
Methodist  chapel,  which,  although  it  was  not  very  large,  yet  it  was- 
much  owned  by  the  Good  Shepherd  of  Israel.  The  doctrine  went 
foth  to  the  edification  of  many  precious  minds. 

The  13th  we  spent  quietly  at  a  friend's  house,  in  reading,  writ- 
ing and  in  religious  meditation,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Mars- 
don ;  and  on  the  next  day,  being  First-day,  we  attended  Friends^ 
meeting  there  in  the  morning,  and  many  coming  in  who  were  not 
our  members,  and  a  little  settling  down  in  spirit.  They  received 
the  solemn  warning  of  the  everlasting  truth  in  the  love  of  it;  and 
in  the  evening  we  held  a  large,  precious  and  heavenly  meeting  at 
Crawshawbooth,  in  the  Methodist  chapel.  It  appeared  to  me  that 
divine  mercy  was  wondrously  extended  to  this  meeting,  in  Avhich 
every  soul  present  Avas  visited.  The  sincerely  engaged  were  en- 
couraged in  the  way  of  life  and  salvation,  and  sinners  Avere  called 
to  repentance.      Blessed  forever  be  the  Lord ! 

The  14th.  We  this  eveiiing  held  a  meeting  at  Blackburn,  which, 
though  it  was  not  very  large,  yet  it  was  a  very  favored  ojiportunity. 
Those  who  attended  were  visited  in  that  true  love  which  gathers 
living  members  into  the  church  of  him  who  gave  himself  a  ransom 
forVill,  to  be  testified  in  due  time.     Blessed  forever  be  his  name! 

The  15th»     We  this  evenins:  held  a  meetinjr  at  Bolton,  which  was 


1850  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  2U5 

pretty  well  attended,  and  it  was  a  precious,  heavenly  season.  I 
thought  that  every  soul  present  was  visited  in  that  love  which  is  the 
source  of  all  consolation. 

On  the  two  followin^r  days  we  attended  the  service  of  the  Quar- 
terly Meeting  of  Friends  held  at  Preston,  which  was  a  favored  sea- 
son ;  and  on  the  evening  of  the  latter,  we  held  a  public  meeting 
there,  Avhich  was  very  large,  where  the  constraining  power  of  the 
everlasting  gospel  went  fortli  to  the  deep  humility  and  enlarged 
edification  of  many  tender  minds. 

The  18th,  I  this  morning  very  affectionately  parted  with  my 
dear  friend  Richard  F.  Foster,  he  feeling  his  mind  turned  home- 
ward. He  has  for  ^metime  past  been  my  companion  in  the  labor 
of  the  gospel,  and  he  is  a  Avorthy  and  experienced  minister  thereof; 
and  while  traveling  with  me  he  cherished  that  true  sympathy  for 
and  with  me  which  is  ever  sustained  in  the  unity  of  the  spirit  in 
the  bond  of  peace.  I  spent  this  day  quietly  at  a  friend's  house  for 
the  purpose  of  of  resting,  writing  and  religious  meditation. 

In  passing  along  from  place  to  place  on  this  great  journey,  my 
mind  is  often  brought  down  under  deej)  exercises,  in  whicii  mourn- 
ing is  often  renewed  in  me,  in  feeling  sensible  of  the  lukewarmness 
of  many  who  make  open  profession  of  the  Christian  name,  and  are 
destitute  of  the  spirit  and  power  of  the  gospel.  May  divine  mercy 
be  extended  to  such  betimes,  saith  my  spirit,  and  gather  them  into 
the  everlasting  kingdon  of  Christ. 

The  19th.  I  this  day,  having  suitable  company  in  the  work  of 
the  ministry,  went  to  Lancaster,  and  the  next  day  being  First-day, 
we  attended  Friepds'  meeting  there  in  the  morning,  and  in  the 
evening  held  a  public  meeting  there  ;  and  the  Lord  was  with  nsthi& 
day,  and  strengthened  us  sufficient  for  his  good  work. 

The  21st.  We  this  morning  held  a  meeting  for  the  Friends  of 
Yealand,  and  in  the  evening  we  held  a  public  meeting  at  Holme 
Mills,  in  the  Methodist  chapel.  Both  these  meetings  were  precious 
and  heavenly  seasons,  and  many  souls  were  baptized  and  encour- 
aged in  the  way  of  life  and  salvation. 

The  22nd.  We  this  day  held  a  meeting  at  Wyersdale,  and  one  in 
the  evening  at  Caldervale.  Both  these  meetings  were  well  attend- 
ed, in  which  doctrine  descended  as  the  heavenly  dew,  to  the  edifica- 
tion of  many  precious  souls. 

The  23rd.  We  this  morning  attended  Friends'  meeting  at  Cal- 
der  Bridge,  and  in  the  evening  held  a  public  meeting  at  Birken- 
enhead,  both  of  which  were  seasons  of  favor,  humility  and  edifi- 
cation. 

The  24th.  We  this  morning  were  at  Friends'  meeting  at  Egre- 
mont,  which  was  a  pretty  good  season,  and  in  the  evening  Ave  held 
a  very  interesting  public  meeting  there  in  Independent  chapel.  I 
thought  that  every  soul  in  this  meeting  was  visited. 

The  25th.     We  this  morning  went  to  the  city  of  Chester,  and 


1?04  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  1850 

^f ter  visiting  the  few  Friends  there  in  their  families  to  good  satis- 
faction, we,  in  the  evening,  held  a  public  meeting  there,  which 
was  pretty  well  attended,  and  it  was  mercifully  a  favored  season. 
Many  precious  souls  were  much  humbled  under  the  overshadowing 
wing  of  ancient  goodness  ;  wisdom  was  given  so  as  to  enable  us  to 
worship  God  in  spirit  and  truth.  Praised  forever  be  his  name,  for 
he  is  worthy! 

The  26th.  We  this  day  went  to  Liverpool,  imd  on  the  next  day, 
being  First-day,  although  my  health  was  poor,  having  traveled  and 
labored  for  some  time  past,  under  much  bodily  infirmity,  yet  I  this 
morning  attended  Friends'  Meeting  there  and  was  silent ;  and  in 
the  evening  we  held  a  public  meeting  there,  which  was  well  attend- 
ed, wherein  I  was  called  forth  into  much  doctrinal  illustration; 
and  after  I  had  labored  about  07ie  hour  in  this  way,  I  became  so 
very  much  debilitated  that  I  felt  myself  sinking  very  fast  under 
the  pressure  of  fainting  operations.  I  stood  and  spoke  as  long  as  I 
could,  and  when  I  could  stand  no  longer,  I  instantly  fell  back  on 
my  seat,  and  felt  vei^  much  like  fainting  away  ;  and  after  sitting 
a  few  minutes  in  silence,  I  was  so  far  recovered  as  to  my  bodily 
strength  so  as  to  be  enabled  again  to  arise  and  to  go  on  with  my 
discourse  much  to  the  relief  of  my  mind,  and  so  the  meeting  at 
length  ended  under  much  Christian  solemnity. 

After  this  it  became  necessary  for  me  to  continue  here  for  some 
time  under  medical  care  for  the  improvement  of  my  health,  during 
which  time  Friends  of  this  place  manifested  toward  me  all  becom- 
ing kindness  and  sympathy,  in  that  true  love  which  abides  forever. 
While  quietly  resting  here  I  was  brought  low  in  body  and  mind. 
I  was  plunged  down  as  into  dust  and  ashes  under  the  Judgment  of 
(fod,  wherein  I  was  constrained  to  cry  out  in  the  spirit  of  my  mind 
in  this  language,  "  The  judgments  of  the  Lord  are  true  and  right- 
eous altogether,  more  to  be  desired  are  they  than  gold,  yea  than 
much  fine  gold,  sweeter  also  than  honey  and  the  honey-comb  ; 
moreover  by  them  is  thy  servant  warned,  and  in  keeping  them  there 
is  great  reward.'*  Teach  me,  0  Lord,  more  and  more  ever  to  keep 
them  in  thy  fear  and  love,  that  I  may  be  preserved  on  every  hand, 
to  the  glory  and  honor  of  thy  great  and  worthy  name,  and  conduct 
me  through  all  to  the  end,  I  pray  thee,  into  thine  everlasting  king- 
dom, for  thine  is  the  glory  both  now  and  forever. 

2(1  Mouth,  Otli.  My  health  having  so  far  recovered  as  to  enable 
me  again  to  travel,  I  therefore  this  morning  set  out  in  company 
with  my  dear  comjianion  and  fellow  laborer  in  the  gospel,  and  at- 
tended the  Meeting  of  Friends  at  West  Houghton,  where  we  found 
■much  good  service  for  the  Lord  ;  and  on  the  next  day  we  attended 
the  JMeeting  of  Friends  at  Warrington,  where  we  found  some  pre- 
vious and  well  concerned  P^'riends,  among  whom  the  life  of  truth 
went  forth  to  encouragement. 

The  8th.     We  this  morning  held  a  meeting  for  Friends  and  oth- 


1850  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKNETT.  -^05 

ers  at  Oldham,  and  one  of  the  same  description  in  the  afternoon  at 
Rochdale.  Both  these  meetings  were  seasons  of  much  favors  and 
refreshments.     Blessed  be  the  Lord  forever! 

The  9th.  We  this  day  went  to  the  city  of  Manchester,  and  the 
next  day  being  First-day,  we  in  the  morning  attended  Friends' 
meeting  there,  and  found  it  to  be  a  large,  interesting  meeting,  in 
which  we  had  much  good  service,  to  satisfaction  and  mutual  edifica- 
tion. In  the  evening  we  held  a  public  meeting  in  this  city,  for 
Friends  and  others,  which  was  largely  attended  and  eminently 
owned  by  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church,  who,  through  his  good 
spirit,  presided  among  us,  to  the  deep  humility  and  gratitude  of 
many  precious  and  well-concerned  souls. 

The  11th.  We  this  morning  held  a  public  meeting  at  Halifax, 
which  was  an  opportunity  of  a  deeply  interesting  nature  ;  every 
soul  in  attendance  was  visited,  and  the  water  of  life  given  suitable 
thereto.     Praised  forever  be  the  name  of  God! 

The  12th.  We  this  evening  held  a  meeting  at  Brighouse,  which 
was  well  attended,  and  much  favored  with  the  doctrine  of  the  ever- 
lasting truth. 

The  13th.  We  this  evening  held  a  lai'ge  meeting  at  Hudders- 
field,  in  the  Independent  chapel.  The  good  spirit  was  with  us  on 
this  occasion,  and  granted  us  wisdom  and  utterance,  to  the  edifica- 
tion of  many  religious  and  precious  sonls. 

The  14th.  We  this  morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at 
Hudderstield,  as  it  came  in  course,  and  in  the  evening  we  held  a 
large  and  highly  favored  meeting  at  Bradford,  for  Friends  and 
others ;  wisdom  and  utterance  were  given  in  this  meeting,  to  the 
edification  of  many  sincere  souls. 

The  15th.  We  this  day  held  a  small  but  good  meeting  at  Gilder- 
some.  The  divine  presence  was  with  us  in  this  meeting,  and  united 
us  mutually  in  the  unity  of  the  spirit,  in  the  bond  of  peace. 

The  IGth.  We  this  day  went  to  Leeds,  and  the  next  day  being 
First-day,  we  attended  Friends'  meeting  there  in  the  morning,  and 
in  the  evening  we  held  a  public  meeting  there  ;  both  these  meet- 
ings were  heavenly  seasons.  The  good  spirit  was'  with  us  and  en- 
abled us  to  perform  true  and  spiritual  worship  to  mutual  edifica- 
tion. 

The  18th.  We  this  afternoon  held  a  very  interesting  and  highly 
favored  meeting  at  the  village  of  Cottingwith,  for  Friends  and 
others.     The  power  of  an  endless  life  prevailed  over  all. 

The  19th.  We  this  evening  held  a  good  open  meeting  at  Thirsk, 
which  was  well  attended,  and  wherein  the  sincerely  engaged  were 
encouraged  in  the  way  of  a  holy  life,  and  sinners  were  impressively 
called  to  repentance  and  self-denial.  Blessed  forever  be  the  ever- 
lasting God! 

The  20th.  We  this  day  held  a  meeting  at  the  village  of  Thorn- 
ton, which  was  a  pretty  good  opportunity,  strength  and  wisdom 
being  given  to  the  glory  and  honor  of  the  great  name. 


206  JOURXAL    OF   THOMAS    ARXETl  18.30 

I  this  day  received  a  kind  and  very  affectionate  letter  from  my 
dear  wife,  giving  me  some  account  of  the  gradual  improvement  of 
her  health,  which  was  to  me  cause  of  humble  gratitude  to  the 
Author  of  all  our  sure  mercies. 

I  also  this  day  very  affectionately  parted  with  a  dear  friend,  who 
has  been  for  some  time  past  acceptably  my  com])anion  and  fellow- 
laborer  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  he  feeling  his  mind  released, 
and  turned  homeward. 

The  21st.  I  this  day  with  suitable  company  traveled  to  the  town 
of  Stockport,  and  on  the  next  day  in  the  evening  I  held  a  good 
open  meeting  at  Low-Leighton,  where  I  thought  that  the  gospel 
message  given  me  to  bear  had  a  good  effect  on  the  minds  of  the 
people,  who  appeared  to  be  humbled  as  in  dust  and  ashes.  All 
praise  is  due  to  Him  who  liveth  forever  and  ever. 

The  23rd.  I  this  day  rested  quietlii  at  the  house  of  my  dear 
friends,  Thomas  Amorth  and  his  dear  wife,  Alicia  S.  Amorth. 
She  is  a  worthy  woman,  possessed  of  an  excellent  understanding, 
and  a  very  intelligent,  interesting  minister  of  the  gospel.  They 
manifested  to  me  in  Christian  love  the  utmost  kindness  and  the 
tenderest  gospel  sympathy.  They  are  both  of  them  experienced 
Friends,  and  possessed  of  enlarged  capacities;  and  their  minds  being 
merged  into  the  spirit  of  the  everlasting  gospel,  therefore  their 
understanding  is  opened  and  illuminated  under  divine  grace,  so  as 
to  understand  the  whole  counsel  of  God  in  regard  to  the  great  doc- 
trine of  Christian  redemption. 

The  34th  being  First-day,  1  this  morning  attended  the  meeting 
of  Friends  at  Stockport,  and  in  the  evening  had  a  public  meeting 
there  ;  both  these  meetings  were  favored  seasons,  the  Good  Spirit 
was  with  us  this  day,  and  gave  me  wisdom  and  utterance,  to  the  edi- 
fication of  many  precious  souls. 

The  2r)th.  I  this  evening  held  a  public  meeting  at  Macclesfield 
in  the  Methodist  chajjcl.  There  were  about  twelve  hundred  people 
in  attendance,  among  whom  the  doctrine  of  the  everlasting  truth 
went  forth  in  the  demonstration  of  the  s])irit  and  with  power; 
many  precious  souls  were  deeply  humbled,  and  the  favor  granted  to 
this  meeting  through  divine  mercy  was  publicly  acknowledged  by 
some  at  the  conclusion  thereof.  All  the  praise  is  alone  due  to  Him 
who  sitteth  on  the  throne. 

The  2Gth.  I  this  day  wrote  a  letter  to  my  dear  wife,  feeling  my 
mind  turned  tow  ard  her  in  Christian  love,  and  in  the  evening  held 
a  public  meeting  at  Morley,  where  much  Christian  solemnity  per- 
vaded, under  which  many  souls  were  much  humbled  and  instructed 
in  the  way  of  life  and  peace. 

The  37th.  1  this  evening  held  a  public  meeting  atNantwich,  in 
a  large  school-room,  which  was  well  attended  and  eminently  owned 
by  the  Good  Shepherd  of  Israel.  Gospel  ministry  went  forth  to 
the  edification  of  many  sincere,  precious  minds. 


^^'^  JOUKNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARXETT.  207 

The  28tli.  I  this  afternoon  held  a  public  meeting  at  Fi-andlej, 
where  I  met  with  many  precious  and  sincerely  engaged  souls,  who 
were  in  this  meeting  much  encouraged  to  lay  hold  on  the  refuge  of 
salvation,  Jesus,  the  Son  of  God,  and  to  serve  him  with  a  peT'fect 
heart  and  with  a  willing  mind,  for  he  is  wortliy  of  all  the  praise 
both  now  and  forever  more  ! 

Third  month,  1st.  I  this  morning  held  a  public  mcetino-  at 
Warrington,  where  all  who  were  present  ajipearcd  to  be  humbled  as 
in  dust  and  ashes  under  the  jjower  of  the  everlasting  truth.  Praised 
forever  more  be  the  great  and  holy  name  ! 

The  3nd.  I  this  day  went  to  *Stoke-upon-Trent,  and  the  next 
day  being  First-day,  I  was  at  Friends'  meeting  there  in  the  morning, 
and  in  the  evening  held  a  public  meeting  there,  which  was  well 
attended.  In  both  these  meetings  I  was,  through  divine  mercy, 
strengthened  and  enabled  to  discharge  my  religious  duty  to  the 
satisfaction  and  peace  of  my  own  mind. 

The  4th.  I  this  morning  held  a  good  open  meeting  at  Utoxeter, 
where  those  who  were  in  attendance  were  united  in  the  unity  of  the 
spirit,  in  the  bond  of  peace,  being  possessed  of  much  religious 
feeling;  and  on  the  next  day  I  was  at  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends 
held  at  Stoke-upon-Trent,  which,  through  divine  mercy,  though  it 
was  small,  yet  it  was  a  very  favored  season.  Blessed  be  the  Lord 
forever  more  ! 

The  6th.  I  this  day  being  in  poor  health,  I  therefore,  under  some 
little  medical  care,  rested  quiefli/  at  a  friend's  house,  and  enjoyed 
that  true  sweet  peace  of  mind  which  none  can  give  but  he  who  is  the 
author  and  source  of  all  true  consolation.  Blessed  be  his  name 
forever  I 

The  Tth,  a  day  to  be  remembered  by  many.  I  this  evening  held 
alarge,  crowded  meetingat  Leek,  in  Friends'  meeting-house.  Though 
there  is  no  Friends'  meeting  there,  yet  this  meeting-house  is  occa- 
sionally occupied  by  friends  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  in  holdino- 
public  meetings.  This  meeting  was  a  memorable  season:  truth 
reigned  over  all.     Blessed  be  God  forever  morel 

The  two  following  days  I  devoted  to  moderate  bodily  exercise  and 
to  paying  some  social  visits,  rather  for  the  benefit  and  improvement 
of  ^my  health,  wherein  I  enjoyed  true  peace  of  mind. 

The  10th,  being  First-day,  I  this  morning  again  attended  the  meet- 
ing of  Friends  at  Stockport,  which  was  a  refreshing  season;  and  in 
the  evening  I  held  a  good  open  meeting  at  Hyde,  in  a  school-room, 
where  the  warning  of  the  gospel  went  forth  in  the  name  of  Christ, 
to  the  conviction  of  many  sinful  hearts.  Glory  to  God  forever 
morel 

The  11th.  I  this  evening  held  another  public  meeting  at  Stock- 
port, m  a  large  school-room,  where  there  were  about  fifteen  hun- 
dred people  in  attendance,  among  whom  the  gospel  testimony  went 
forth  m  the  demonstration  of  the  spirit  and  with  power,  to  the  edi- 
fication of  many  precious  minds. 


208  JOUKNAL    OF   THOMAS   ARXETT.  1850' 

The  I'-ith.  I  this  evening  held  another  large  public  meeting  at 
^larshsfield,  in  a  large  school-room.  The  people  in  attendance 
manifested  much  solid  deportment.  They  were  very  attentive,  and 
received  the  word  of  truth  delivered  among  them  to  humility  and 
to  edification  of  spirit. 

The  13th.  I  this  day  was  at  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends 
held  at  Stockport,  and  found  it  to  be  my  place  to  sit  therein  under 
suffering  silence.  Some  other  dear  Friends,  however,  in  the  work 
of  the  ministry  found  much  good  service  ;  and  the  next  day  I 
attended  the  service  of  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends  held  there, 
wherein  my  mouth  was  opened,  and  my  heart  was  enlarged  in  the 
love  of  the  everlasting  gospel,  to  the  edification  of  many  dear 
friends.  May  all  the  praise  be  given  to  Him  of  whom  the  whole 
family  is  named  in  the  heaven  and  in  the  earth  I 

The  15th.  I  was  this  day  renewedly  brought  under  very  serious 
consideration  in  regard  to  the  concern  of  always  being  ready  peace- 
fully to  leave  this  world  when  called  upon — one  year  having  now 
jjassed  away  since  I  parted  with  my  dear  Avile  and  other  dear  rela- 
tives and  friends  in  my  own  beloved  country,  a  number  of  whom 
are  now  in  eternity, — a  deep  and  sincere  desire  was  renewed  in  me 
that  my  dear  wife  and  myself  may  ever  stand  ready  to  be  gathered 
into  the  fold  of  eternal  rest,  consistent  with  the  will  of  Divine  Wis- 
dom. 

I  this  evening  held  a  good  open  meeting  at  the  village  of  Poyn- 
ton,  where  the  gospel  stream  flowed  to  the  melting  of  many  sincere 
precious  souls.     Blessed  be  the  Lord  forever  more  I 

The  16th.  I  this  day  went  to  Birmingham,  and  on  the  next  day, 
being  First-day,  I  attended  Friends'  Meeting  there  in  the  morning, 
and  in  the  evening  I  held  a  public  meeting  there,  which  was  well 
attended.  Both  these  meetings  were  seasons  of  eminent  favor, 
wherein  I  was  much  opened  in  the  love  of  the  gospel,  to  the  edifi- 
cation of  many  precious  and  seeking  souls. 

The  13th.  I  this  evening  held  a  very  interesting  meeting  at 
Stourbridge.  This  meeting  was  well  attended.  Tlie  people  received 
the  truth  in  the  love  of  it.  Every  soul  was  humbled  in  dust  and 
ashes,  and  the  meeting  closed  in  love  to  God  and  man. 

The  19th.  A  day  of  much  exercise  with  me.  I  felt  renewedly  my 
entire  dependence  on  the  Divine  Master  for  strength,  wisdom  and 
utterance,  to  enal)le  me  to  labor  in  the  work  of  the  gospel  to  the 
glory  of  His  worthy  name,  for  without  Him  I  c;in  do  nothing  that 
will  redound  to  His  praise  or  advance  His  glorious  and  good 
cause. 

I  this  morning  held  rather  a  trying  meeting  at  Dudley.  This 
meeting  was  not  large,  and  the  life  of  pure  religion  was  at  low  ebb; 
however,  at  length,  the  truth  arose  in  some  degree,  so  that  some 
precious  souls  were  visited,  and  sinners  were  warned  to  flee  from 
the  wrath  to  come,  so  that  I  thought  that  some  little  good  was  done 
in  this  meeting. 


1850  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  209 

The  20th.  I  this  movn'mg  again  cittended  the  meeting  of  Friends 
at  Birmingham,  which,  through  divine  mercy,  was  a  precious  and 
good  meeting,  and  in  the  evening  I  held  a  large  and  interesting- 
meeting  there,  in  the  Independent  chapel,  where  the  doctrine  of 
the  gospel  was  illustrated  to  the  humility  and  edification  of  many 
minds. 

The  21  st.  I  this  morning  held  a  pretty  good  open  meeting  at 
Tamworth,  wlic^e  the  sincerely  engaged  were  much  encouraged  to 
hold  on  in  the  way  of  life  and  salvation,  and  sinners  were  very  im- 
pressively called  to  repentance. 

The  22d,  I  this  morning  held  ajDrecious  and  heart-melting  meet- 
ing at  vVtherston,  those  who  were  in  attendance  being  broken  down 
in  spirit  and  brought  into  a  situation  to  receive  the  trutli  in  the 
love  of  it ;  therefore  this  was  a  good  and  very  impressive  opportu- 
nity. 

The  23d.  I  this  day  went  to  Leicester,  and  the  next  day,  being 
First-day,  I  was  at  Friends'  meeting  there  in  the  morning,  and  in 
the  evening  I  held  a  public  meeting  there,  which  was  well  attended. 
Both  these  meetings  were  much  favored  with  the  baptizing  power 
of  truth,  under  which  many  precious  souls  were  much  humbled  and 
edified  in  the  doctrine  of  the  everlasting  truth.  May  all  the  praise 
forever  be  given  to  him  who  can  do  all  things  according  to  his  will! 

The  25th.  I  this  morning  held  a  large  and  highly  favored  meet- 
ing at  Oakham,  in  the  Agricultural  Hall.  The  people  in  attend- 
ance generally,  in  the  forepart  of  the  meeting,  manifested  a  want 
of  solidity  of  spirit,  but  the  power  of  the  holy  truth  soon  arose  in 
complete  dominion,  so  that  every  soul  was  hushed  down  in  silence, 
and  the  doctrine  of  the  gospel  was  preached  in  the  demonstration 
of  the  spirit  and  with  power. 

The  26th.  I  this  day  went  to  Coventry,  and  on  the  next  day 
attended  the  mid-week  meeting  of  Friends  there,  as  it  came  in 
course,  and  in  the  evening  I  held  a  public  meeting  there.  The 
good  spirit  was  with  me  this  day  and  strengthened  me  mercifully, 
sufficient  for  the  work  and  the  service  of  the  day. 

The  28th.  I  this  morning  attended  the  usual  mid-week  meeting 
of  Friends  at  Warwick,  which  was  small,  but  a  refreshing  season, 
and  in  the  evening  I  held  a  public  meeting  there,  in  which  a  gen- 
eral invitation  went  forth  to  the  tendering  and  melting  of  many 
hearts.  The  poor  in  spirit  were  encouraged  to  hold  on  in  the  good, 
old  way,  and  sinners  were  warned  and  called  to  repentance. 

The  29th.  I  this  morning  met  about  a  hundred  dear  young 
friends  of  Birmingham  at  a  Friend's  house,  who  desired  a  little  to 
be  refreshed  with  me  both  in  body  and  spirit,  which  was  mercifully 
experienced ;  for  after  a  time  of  mutual  force  and  open  conversa- 
tion, under  divine  reverence,  the  power  Df  truth  came  upon  us, 
whereby  we  were  renewedly  united  in  the  unity  of  the  spirit,  in  the 
bond  of  peace.     This  opportunity  closed  with  prayer  and  thanks- 


210  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  18.50 

giving  to  the  Lord  for  all  his  mercies  and  blessings  to  us.  I  have, 
in  the  prosecution  of  this  visit,  met  with  many  similar  companies 
in  various  places,  to  mutual  good  satisfaction. 

The  30th.  I  spent  this  day  in  visiting  some  dear  and  aged 
Friends,  who  were  confined  to  their  rooms,  and  who  were  very  glad 
to  see  me ;  and  on  the  next  day,  being  First-day,  I,  in  the  morning, 
again  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at  Birmingham,  which  was 
a  precious  and  refreshing  season.  In  the  evening  I  held  a  good 
open  meeting  at  Wednesbury,  in  the  Baptist  chapel,  where  that 
true  and  si)iritual  worship  was  i^erformed  through  the  holy  spirit, 
Avhich  is  ever  his  due,  who  sitteth  on  the  throne,  and  who  is  worthy 
to  be  praised  forever  I 

Fourth  month  1st.  A  day  to  be  remembered  by  many  for  good. 
I  this  morning  held  a  large,  glorious  and  heavenly  meeting  at  Dar- 
laston,  in  the  Methodist  chapel.  It  ajipeared  to  me  that  every  soul 
in  attendance  was  visited  and  humbled  as  in  the  dust.  Blessed  for- 
ever be  the  name  of  the  everlasting  God  ! 

The  23d.  I  this  morning  held  a  precious  and  good  meeting  at 
Ockerhill,  in  the  Methodist  chapel,  where  my  nioutli  was  opened  in 
gospel  love,  to  the  edification  of  many  humble  and  sincere  minds. 
All  the  praise  is  due  to  the  great  Creator. 

The  3d.  I  this  morning  held  a  meeting  at  Great  Bridge,  in  the 
Methodist  chapel,  which  was  well  attended  by  people  with  open 
hearts  to  receive  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it,  which  was  mercifully 
given  in  the  demonstration  of  the  s])irit  and  with  power.  Many 
precious  and  sincere  souls  in  this  meeting  were  renewedly  united  in 
the  unity  of  the  spirit,  in  the  bond  of  peace.  The  upright  in  heart 
were  much  encouraged  in  the  way  of  life  and  salvation,  and  sinners 
were  warned  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come.  May  all  the  praise  be 
given  to  him  who  inhabiteth  eternity  ! 

The  4th.  I  this  morning  held  a  large,  interesting,  glorious  and 
heavenly  meeting  at  Tipton,  in  the  Methodist  chapel,  the  people  in 
attendance  being  humbled  in  spirit ;  the  power  of  an  endless  life 
had  the  entire  ascendancy  over  this  meeting,  under  wliich  every 
soul  present  felt  the  immense  value  of  the  knowledge,  under  divine 
mercy,  ever  to  live  a  holy  life,  so  as  to  enjoy  peace  immortal  in  time 
and  in  a  glorious  eternity. 

The  5th.  I  this  morning  held  a  meeting  at  the  town  of  Walsall, 
in  the  Methodist  chapel.  This  meeting  will  long  be  remembered 
by  many  for  good;  the  power  of  the  everlasting  truth  reigned  over 
all, — strength,  wisdom  and  utterance  being  mercifully  given,  to  the 
decj)  humility  and  renewed  edification  of  all  in  this  very  interesting 
meeting.  Tiiose  in  attendance  were  generally  religious  people, 
among  whom  much  religious  feeling  was  cherished  in  this  meeting. 
This  glorious  opportunity  ended  with  ])rayer  and  thanksgiving  to 
the  great  and  merciful  giver  of  every  good  and  jjerfect  gift. 

The  meetings  for  divine  worship  wliich  I  have  held  in  these  parts 


1850  JOURNAT.   or   THOMAS    AHNETT.  211 

during  tlie  fore  part  of  this  niontli  were  generally  attended  by  the 
Methodists,  who  manifested  much  religious  feeling.  They  also 
gave  me  the  right  hand  of  fellowshi}),  manifesting  toward  me  th« 
unity  of  the  spirit,  in  the  bond  of  peace.  Many  tears  were  shed  in 
these  meetings,  and  many  precious  and  well  concerned  souls  were 
encouraged  in  the  way  of  life  and  peace  ;  the  mournful  in  sjairit 
were  comforted,  and  tiie  thirsty  and  hungry  in  spirit  received  mer- 
cifully of  the  water  of  eternal  life.  All  the  praise  forever  be  given 
to  him  who  doeth  all  things  right! 

The  6th.  I  this  day  went  to  Coalbrookdale,  where  I  was  kindly 
received  and  entertained  by  my  dear  friend  Barnard  Dickinson,  who 
is  a  valuable  minister  among  friends;  and  the  next  day,  being  First- 
day,  I  attended  Friends'  meeting  there  in  the  morning,  and  in  the 
evening  I  held  a  public  meeting  there,  which  was  well  attended. 
This  day  was  rather  a  low  tiuie  with  me,  both  in  body  and  mind. 
My  spirit  earnestly  desired  Divine  support.  I  trusted  alone  in  my 
blessed  Saviour,  and  He  mercifully  remembered  me,  and  gave  me  a 
little  strength  in  body  and  mind,  so  that  I  was  enabled  this  day  to 
labor  in  the  gospel  in  a  good  degree,  to  the  peace  of  my  mind  and 
to  the  satisfaction  of  Friends. 

The  8th.  I  this  morning,  in  company  with  my  dear  friend,  Bar- 
nard Dickinson,  set  out  for  Bewdly,  where  we  arrived  in  the  even- 
ing in  time  to  hold  a  public  meeting,  in  which  my  mind  was  much 
opened  in  the  constraing  power  of  the  gospel.  Many  precious  and 
humble  souls  were  visited  and  much  encouraged  in  the  way  of  life 
and  salvation. 

The  9th.  We  this  evening  held  a  meeting  at  Bromyard,  which 
was  well  attended,  and  the  melting  power  of  the  everlasting  truth 
was  over  all.  Many  precious  and  sincere  souls  were  visited  and 
encouraged  in  the  way  of  eternal  glory  and  happiness.  Praised  for- 
ever be  the  name  of  the  everlasting  God  I 

The  10th.  A  day  of  deep  exercise  with  me;  I  was  brought  low  in 
body  and  mind.  I  felt  i-eneiuedhj  tiiat  I  had  none  to  depend  upon 
but  my  blessed  and  holy  Saviour,  for  vain  is  the  help  of  man;  but 
help  is  laid  on  One  who  is  mighty,  and  who  will  help  and  support 
all  his  little  dependent  children.  We  this  evening  held  a  large 
meeting  at  Leominster,  in  which  out  of  weakness  I  was  made  strong 
in  Divine  grace,  being  much  enabled  through  Infinite  mercy  to 
enter  into  an  illustration  of  the  great  doctrine  of  Christian  redemp- 
tion, to  the  humility  and  edification  of  many  sincere  Christian 
souls.     Blessed  be  the  Lord  forever! 

The  11th.  We  this  evening  held  a  meeting  at  Walton,  in  a 
granary  room,  which  was  fitted  up  for  this  meeting.  This  was  a 
large  and  highly  favored  meetin;^,  there  being  many  hungry  and 
thirsty  souls  present,  who  received  the  bread  .and  water  of  eternal 
life  in  the  love  thereof. 

The  12th.     We  this  day  held  a  precious  and  open  meeting  at 


212  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  iSoO 

Pales.    All  who  attended  this  meeting  were  visited  and  broken  down 
in  spirit,  in  many  instances  even  into  tears. 

.  The  13th.  We  this  morning  lield  a  meeting  at  Kay,  which  was 
small,  but  the  few  who  attended  were  mercifully  remembered  in  the 
love  of  the  gospel.     Praised  be  the  Lord  forever  ! 

(The  three  last-mentioned  meetings  are,  as  I  am  informed,  situ- 
ated in  Wales.) 

We  this  afternoon  went  to  Hereford,  and  the  next  day  being  First- 
day,  we  attended  Friends'  meeting  there  in  the  morning,  which  was 
small,  and  wherein  I  sat  with  sutfering  silence ;  and  in  the  evening 
we  held  a  public  meeting  there,  which  was  well  attended,  and  in 
which  I  was  mercifully  opened  in  the  love  of  the  everlasting  gospel, 
to  the  edification  of  many  precious  souls. 

The  loth.  We  this  evening  held  a  pretty  good  meeting  at  Koss. 
Those  in  attendance  (jenerally  appeared  to  be  in  a  situation  of  mind 
to  receive  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it,  which  was  mercifully  vouch- 
safed to  us  through  the  mediation  of  our  blessed  Saviour. 

The  two  following  days  we  attended  the  General  Meeting  of 
Friends,  so  called,  held  at  Worcester,  which  was  through  adorable 
mercy  made  a  precious  and  refreshing  season  to  many  sincere  hearts; 
and  it  appeared  to  me  that  all  our  dear  friends  in  attendance  at 
this  meeting  were  reached  in  the  spirit  of  the  mind  to  edification. 

After  this  meeting  was  concluded  I  parted  affectionately  with  my 
dear  friend  Barnard  Dickinson,  wlio  has  very  acceptably  traveled 
with  me  for  some  little  time  past;  at  which  time  my  dear  friend 
William  Ball,  a  worthy  minister  among  Friends,  joined  me,  to 
travel  with  me  as  way  may  open  in  the  love  of  the  gospel. 

The  13th.  We  this  evening  held  a  large  meeting  at  Campden, 
where  the  power  of  truth  was  over  all.  The  Good  Spirit  was  with 
me,  and  gave  me  utterance  to  the  glory  of  the  great  and  adorable 
name,  and  to  the  humility  and  edification  of  many  precious  and 
sincere  souls. 

The  19th.  Our  service  this  day  was  that  of  a  meeting  this  even- 
ing at  Evesham,  which  was  well  attended,  and  eminently  owned  by 
the  Good  Shepherd  of  Israel;  and  on  the  next  day  we  returned  to 
Worcester,  and  the  21st  being  First-day,  we  attended  Friends'  meet- 
ing there  in  the  morning,  which  was  a  good  season;  and  in  the  even- 
ing we  held  a  public  meeting  there,  which  was  large  and  highly 
favored  with  the  overshadowing  of  Divine  mercy,  under  which  faith 
and  doctrine  were  illustrated  to  tlie  humility  and  edification  of 
many  sincerely  engaged  minds. 

The  22nd.  We  this  evening  held  a  glorious  and  heavenly  meet- 
ing at  Dudley,  in  the  Methodist  chapel.  This  was  a  large  meeting, 
and  eminently  favored  with  tlic  presence  of  the  Lord.  The  right- 
eous were  much  encouraged,  and  sinners  were  warned  and  called  to 
repentance. 

The  two  following  days  we  attended  the  service  of  the  Quarterly 


i 


1850  JOUENAL   OF   THOMAS   AENETT.  213 

Meeting  of  Friends  held  at  Birmingham.  Although  my  health  was 
poor  at  this  time,  yet  I  was  strengthened  in  body  and  mind,  so  as  to 
be  enabled  to  labor  in  this  meeting,  to  the  peace  of  my  own  mind 
and  to  the  satisfaction  of' friends. 

The  25th.  I  rested  quietly  at  a  friend's  house,  being  in  poor 
health,  and  under  some  little  medical  care  for  the  improvement  of 
my  health.  My  mind  this  day  in  degree  entered  quietly  into  relig- 
ious meditation  on  the  subject  of  the  wondrous  works  of  Divine 
Providence;  and  under  a  sense  of  the  vastness  of  His  works  who 
made  the  world  and  all  things  therein,  I  felt  deej^ly  humbled  as  in 
sackcloth  and  ashes  before  Him. 

The  26tli.  Wo  this  evening  held  a  meeting  at  Entington,  which 
'  was  well  attended  and  highly  favored  with  the  overshadowing  of 
Divine  grace,  under  the  blessed  influence  of  which  every  soul  pres- 
ent was  mercifully  visited  and  edified.    Blessed  be  the  Lord  forever! 

The  27th.  We  spent  this  day  quietly  at  a  Friend's  house,  in 
religious  meditation,  reading  and  writing.  I  was  this  day  under 
much  exercise  of  spirit ;  the  mighty  power  of  God  was  upon  me, 
whereby  I  was  humbled  as  in  sackcloth  and  ashes  before  Him. 

The  isth,  being  First-day,  we  this  morning  attended  the  meeting 
of  Friends  at  Shipton,  wherein  I  was  much  cast  down  in  spirit  and 
in  suffering  silence.  My  dear  companion  and  fellow-laborer  in  the 
gospel  had  good  service  in  this  meeting;  and  in  the  evening  we  held 
a  public  meeting  there,  which  was  a  large,  crowded  meeting  and  in 
which  my  mind  was  eminently  opened  in  the-  love  of  the  everlasting 
gospel,  to  the  deep  humility  of  many  minds. 

The  29th.  My  spirit  this  day  was  a  little  revived,  so  that  I 
rejoiced  in  the  anticipation  of  the  hope  of  the  gospel.  We  this 
evening  held  a  meeting  at  Breiles,  where  the  people,  under  Divine 
mercy,  a  little  retiring  in  spirit,  and  coming  to  be  prepared  to  re- 
ceive the  i^reaching  of  the  toord  in  the  love  of  it  ;  wherefore  it 
appeared  to  me  that  every  soul  present  was  visited  in  a  degree  of 
that  love  which  breathes  on  earth  peace  and  good  will  toward  all 
mankind.  My  mind  was  deeply  humbled  and  much  opened  in  the 
love  of  the  gospel  on  this  occasion.  The  power  of  an  endless  life 
was  over  all,  to  the  praise  of  Him  who  doeth  all  things  right. 

Tlie  30th.  I  was  this  day  brought  under  deep  exercise  of  mind. 
I  felt  very  solitary  and  much  cast  down  in  spirit.  I  was  possessed 
of  mournful  feelings.  I  cried  to  the  Lord,  and  he  mercifully 
remembered  me  and  strengthened  me.  We  this  evening  held  a 
meeting  at  Banbury.  Those  in  attendance  were  generally  religious 
people,  and  under  the  constraining  power  of  the  gospel  my  mind 
was  much  o]>ened  among  them  in  the  illustration  of  the  duty  of 
Divine  worship,  to  satisfaction. 

5th  month,  first.  I  this  morning  received  a  very  kind  and 
affectionate  letter  from  my  dear  wife,  informing  me  of  tJie  gradual 
improvement  of  her  health,  and  also  encouraging  me,  notwithstand- 


214  JOUENAL    OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  ISW 

ing  all  her  afflictions,  privations  and  solitary  feelings,  yet  to  look 
forward  in  the  obedience  of  faith  in  the  prosecution  of  tiie  field  of 
gospel  labor  before  me,  and  desiring  me  not  to  turn  my  face  home- 
ward until  the  Divine  Master  bids  nie  so  to  do,  and  assuring  me 
that  amidst  all  her  adversity  she  often  enjoyed  the  sweetness  of  that 
true  peace  which  this  world  can  neither  give  nor  take  aiVay.  This 
letter  was  instrumental  in  humbling  me  as  in  dust  and  ashes,  and 
prayer  was  secretly  raised  in  me  on  her  behalf,  knowing  that  very 
many  probations  have  assailed  her  since  I  parted  with  her  very  affec- 
tionately for  the  prosecution  of  this  weighty  engagement  now  upon 
me. 

We  this  day  attended  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends  at  Hook- 
Norton,  which,  through  Divine  inercy,  was  made  a  glorious  and 
very  impressive  season.  Friends  were  united  in  that  love  which 
first  gathered  us  to  be  a  people,  under  the  blessed  influence  of  which, 
we  were  much  refreshed  together.  We  this  evening  held  a  public 
meeting  in  this  neighborhood,  in  a  barn,  which  was  fitted  up  for  this 
meeting.  The  mercy  of  God  descended  upon  us,  to  the  decp' 
humility  of  many  minds;  the  righteous  were  much  encouraged  to 
look  alone  to  Him  for  support  and  protection  who  is  the  author 
and  the  finisher  of  the  saints'  faith,  and  sinners  were  called  to  re- 
pentance and  tenderly  warned  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come.. 
Praised  forever  be  the  name  of  the  Lord  I 

The  2nd.  We  this  day  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at  Sib- 
ford,  which,  in  connection  with  the  children  of  the  school  taught 
there  under  the  care  of  Friends,  made  this  a  very  interesting- 
meeting.  The  language  of  truth  went  forth  to  our  mutual  strength. 
In  the  evening  we  held  a  public  meeting  there,  which  was  large  and 
mercifully  owned  by  the  great  head  of  the  Church,  who  manifested 
His  love,  to  the  comfort  and  edification  of  many  precious  and  bap- 
tized souls.     Praised  be  the  Lord  forever! 

The  3rd.  1  this  day  was  much  cast  down  in  spirit,  till  the  even- 
ing, when  we  held  a  public  meeting  at  Adderbury,  at  which 
time  the  power  of  an  endless  life  arose  for  my  deliverance,  and  set 
me  at  liberty  in  the  love  of  the  glad  tidings  of  the  gospel,  so  that 
I  was  much  enlarged  toward  the  very  interesting  company  before 
me.  The  faithful  were  much  encouraged  in  the  way  of  well-doing, 
and  sinners  were  called  to  repent  and  live  forever. 

The  4th.  We  this  day  went  to  Charlbury,  and  the  next  day 
being  First-day,  we  were  at  Friends'  meeting  there  in  the  morning,, 
which  was  a  blessed,  favored  season;  and  in  the  evening  we  held  a 
public  meeting  at  Chipping-Norton,  wliicli  was  a  large  and  highly 
favored  meeting.     Blessed  be  the  Lord  forever  more! 

The  6th.  I  this  morning  wrote  a  letter  to  my  dear  wife,  feeling 
my  mind  most  affectionately  turned  toward  her  in  the  love  of  the 
everlasting  gospel;  and  in  the  evening  we  held  a  glorious  and 
lieavenly  meeting  at  Charlbury  for  Friends  and  others.     This  was  * 


1850  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKNETT.  215 

large  meeting,  and  tliose  in  attendance  appeared  to  be  humbled 
down  in  spirit  in  that  love  which  Avould  through  faithful  obedi- 
ence gather  all  " mankind  loliile  i7i  this  world  under  divine  grace" 
into  everlasting  happiness  and  immortal  glory. 

The  7th.  We  this  morning,  after  seeing  Friends  of  Burford 
together  for  the  purpose  of  divine  worship,  in  the  evening  held 
there  a  public  meeting,  which  was  well  attended,  and  much  owned 
by  Him  who  livetli  forever  and  ever,  and  who  is  worthy  of  all  the 
praise. 

The  8th.  We  this  morning,  after  attending  the  meeting  of 
Friends  at  Witney,  in  the  evening  held  a  large  and  highly  favored 
meeting  there.  It  appeared  to  me  that  every  soul  present  was  vis- 
ited and  invited  to  come  and  take  the  water  of  life  freely.  Many 
hearts  were  much  tendered  and  broken  down  into  deej)  contrition. 

The  9th.  A  day  of  deep  exercise  with  me.  I  renewedly  saw  and 
felt  the  responsibility  attached  to  the  work  of  the  public  ministry 
of  the  gospel  as  imparted  to  me,  and  I  earnestly  su]>plicated  the 
sustaining  power  of  the  Most  High  in  the  prosecution  of  this 
great  work.  We  this  evening  held  a  large  and  very  interesting 
meeting  in  the  city  of  Oxford,  in  the  town  hall.  The  power  of 
an  endless  life  reigned  over  all,  and  many  sincere-hearted  Chris- 
tians were  much  strengthened  in  the  way  of  life  and  salvation. 
The  citizens  of  this  city  manifested  much  Christian  regard  toward 
us,  .and  appeared  to  be  very  thankful  to  us  for  the  meeting  that  we 
held  among  them.  All  the  praise  is  forever  due  to  the  everlast- 
ing God ! 

The  10th.  We  this  evening  held  a  meeting  at  Henly,  in  the  town 
hall,  where  I  stood  forth  to  labor  among  the  people  in  much  weak- 
ness ;  but  keeping  faithfully  under  the  leadings  of  the  truth, 
strength  was  soon  given  and  utterance  was  granted,  so  that  it 
Avas  mercifully  a  good  and  favored  meeting,  and  ended  in  prayer 
and  thanksgiving  to  the  Good  Shepherd  of  Israel. 

The  11th.  We  this  day  rested  quietly  at  a  friend's  house  in  the 
town  of  Reading,  and  the  next  day,  being  First-day,  we  attended 
Friends'  meeting  there  in  the  morning,  Avhich,  through  divine 
mercy,  was  made  a  precious  and  refreshing  season  to  many  sincere 
and  faithfully  devoted  Friends.  In  the  evening  we  held  a  public 
meeting  there,  which  was  a  large  and  highly  favored  meeting,  in 
which  the  wisdom  of  man,  the  might  of  man,  and  the  riches  of 
man,  were  set  forth  under  divine  grace  in  their  pro])er  place;  and 
the  mercy,  power,  and  wisdom  of  God  reigned  over  all,  to  the  deep 
humility  and  renewed  edification  of  many  j^recious  and  sincerely 
engaged  souls.  This  meeting  closed  with  prayer  and  thanksgiving 
to  the  good  Shepherd  of  Israel,  "  To  whom  be  praise  and  domin- 
ion forever  and  ever." 

The  13th.  We  this  evening  held  a  meeting  for  Friends  and 
«thers,  at  Maidenhead,  in  the  Independent  chapel.     Those  in  at- 


216  JOUKNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARXETT.  1850 

tendance  were  generally  religions  people,  among  whom,  settling 
down  under  the  influence  of  divine  tvisdom  in  mutual  Christian 
sympathy,  we  were  favored  to  feel  for,  and  with  the  interesting 
company  collected  before  us  in  the  love  of  the  everlasting  gospel, 
wherefore  we  were  mutually  refreshed  together. 

The  14th.  We  this  day  attended  the  Monthly  Meeting  of 
Friends,  held  at  Reading,  wherein  I  was  silent,  feeling  poor  and 
much  cast  down  in  spirit.  My  dear  companion  and  fellow-laborer 
had  much  good  service.  In  the  evening  we  held  a  large  meeting  at 
the  town  of  Workingham,  in  the  town  hall,  where  the  people  in 
the  fore  part  of  the  meeting  were  very  much  unsettled  in  mind, 
among  whom  I  stood  forth  to  labor  in  much  weakness  ;  but  keep- 
ing singly  under  divine  grace,  strength  was  soon  given  to  my  own 
admiration,  and  to  the  humility  and  edification  of  the  people. 

The  15th.  We  this  morning  attended  the  usual  mid-week  meet- 
ing of  Friends,  at  Warborough,  which,  through  divine  mercy,  we 
were  refreshed,  together  with  the  few  friends  of  this  neighborhood; 
and  in  the  evening  we  held  a  pretty  good  public  meeting  there. 
The  people  in  attendance  appeared  to  be  serious  and  disposed  to  re- 
ceive the  truth  in  the  love  of  it.  Praised  forever  be  the  name  of 
the  Lord! 

The  16th.  I  this  day  went  with  my  dear  companion,  William 
Ball,  to  his  residence  at  Tottenham,  where  I  met  with  a  very 
kind  welcome  by  him  and  his  dear  wife,  Ann  Ball,  both  of  whom 
received  me  in  Christian  love  to  be  their  lodger  through  the  ap- 
proaching Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends  to  be  held  in  London.  They 
are  dear  and  worthy  friends. 

The  17th.  I  was  this  day  under  much  exercise  of  mind.  I  de- 
sired most  earnestly  for  renewed  dedication  of  heart  to  God,  feel- 
ing my  entire  dependence  on  him  for  every  blessing,  both  outward 
and  inward.  I  this  day  received  the  following  kind  and  affection- 
ate letter  from  a  dear  friend  in  America. 

Philadelphia,  4th  mo.  14,  1850. 

My  Dear  Friend:  I  heard  a  few  da3^s  ago  of  an  opportunity  to 
England  on  the  17th  of  this  month,  and  frequently  it  has  been 
with  me  to  avail  myself  of  it  to  address  a  line  in  order  to  convey 
my  sympathy  to  thee  in  thy  present  important  and  solemn  en- 
gagement, and  not  only  so,  but  to  encourage  thee,  my  dear  friend, 
to  hold  out  to  the  end,  and  in  doing  the  work  assigned  thee  by 
him  whom  thou  knowest  is  a  rich  rewarder  of  those  who  love  him 
and  keep  his  commandments  faitbfully. 

It  has  been  comfortable,  yea,  precious  to  me,  to  learn  that  it  has 
been  well  with  thee  througli  the  aboundings  of  that  grace  that 
comes  alone  tlirough  our  dear  Redeemer.  No  doubt  thou  art  at 
times  sorely  tried,  tossed,  perplexed,  distressed,  and  cast  almost 
down;  but  was  it  not  so  even  with  the  immediate  disciples  of  our, 
dear  Lord — and  did  he  not  say  that  it  was  enough  for  the  disciple 


1850 


JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARXETT.  217 


to  be  as  his  Master.  Thou  hast  mercifully  found  that  tribulation 
worketh  patience,  and  patience  experience;  yet  there  arc  times 
when  we  are  so  left  that  we  cannot  so  very  jirofitably  apply  this 
truth.  Notwithstanding,  it  remains  true,  and  in  due  time,  if  we 
keep  faithful,  we  shall  be  feelingly  edified  thereby. 

In  a  measure,  I  trust,  of  that  love  which  binds  the  household  of 
faith  together,  I  would  call  to  thy  remembrance  the  message  of 
Paul  to  Archippus,  in  this  language:  "  Take  heed  to  the  ministry 
which  thou  hast  received  in  the  Lord,  that  thou  fulfill  it."  I  now 
bid  thee  affectionately  farewell,  remaining  thy  true,  sympathizing 
and  attached  friend,  Thomas  Wistar,  Jr. 

The  18th.  I  this  day  attended  the  meeting  of  sufferings,  held 
in  London,  and  the  next  day,  being  First-day,  I  attended  the  morn- 
ing meeting  of  Friends  at  Tottenham.  This  was  a  day  of  deep  ex- 
ercise with  me.  I  was  silent  this  day  as  to  gospel  ministry ,_  except 
in  the  evening  meeting  I  delivered  a  short  but  impressive  dis- 
course to  good  satisfaction. 

The  20th.  I  this  day  attended  the  opening  of  the  Yearly  Meet- 
ing of  Ministers  and  Elders,  held  in  Loudon,  which  was  a  good 
meeting.  Friends  were  brought  to  feel  near  one  to  another  in 
Christian  love. 

The  21st.  I  this  day  attended  another  sitting  of  the  Yearly 
Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders,  before  whom,  with  feelings  of  deep 
humility,  I  spread  a  concern  which  impressed  me  to  pay  a  relig- 
ious visit  to  those  professing  with  Friends  on  the  continent  of  Eu- 
rope; and  while  engaged  in  those  parts  in  the  prosecution  of  this 
concern,  also  to  stand  open  to  attend  to  any  other  religious  service 
that  may  appear  to  be  called  for  under  the  pointings  of  the  ever- 
lasting truth.  While  this  subject  was  before  Friends,  under  solid 
consideration,  the  baptizing  power  of  the  Lord  w^as  felt  to  be  over 
the  meeting,  uniting  Friends  in  a  feeling  of  sympathy  and  unity 
with  me  in  regard  to  this  weighty  concern.  Sweet  was  their  unity 
toward  me,  and  earnest  was  their  desire  for  my  encouragement  in 
the  prosecution  of  the  field  of  labor  before  me;  and  they,  in  the 
opening  of  Christian  love,  granted  me  a  very  good  certificate  for 
the  prosecution  of  my  religious  duty  on  the  continent  of  Europe. 

The  two  following  days  the  Yearly  Meeting  for  Discipline  was 
comfortably  engaged  in  reading  the  queries  and  the  answers  there- 
to from  the  Quarterly  Meetings  of  Friends. 

The  24:th.  I  this  morning  attended  a  very  large  meeting  at 
Devonshire  House,  in  London,  wherein  I  Avas  drawn  in  gospel  love 
to  preach,  I  believe,  the  everlasting  gospel,  to  the  humility  and  edi- 
fication of  many  precious  and  sincere  souls.  In  the  afternoon 
Friends  were  engaged  in  considering  the  state  of  Society. 

The  25th.  The  Yearly  Meeting  this  day  came  together  under 
feelings  of  deep  humility,  and  various  subjects  came  before  us, 
which  were  considered  and  disposed  of  in  Christian  love ;  and  the 


218  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKXETT.  1850 

next  day  being  First-day,  I  attended  in  the  morning  the  meeting  of 
Friends  at  Tottenham,  and  in  the  evening  I  was  at  Friends'  Meet- 
ing at  Stoke-Newington.  Both  these  meetings  were  precious  and 
favored  seasons. 

The  27th.  The  two  sittings  of  tlie  Yearly  Meeting  this  day  ap- 
peared to  be  owned  by  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church,  under  whose 
guidance  Friends  were  favored  to  transact  the  affairs  that  came  be- 
fore them  to  satisfaction. 

The  28th.  The  Yearly  Meeting  met  this  morning  under  much 
humility,  and  Friends  were  favored  to  move  forward  with  the  busi- 
ness thereof  to  good  satisfaction;  and  in  tlie  evening,  with  the  imity 
of  Friends,  I  held  a  meeting  for  the  youth  and  others  at  Devon- 
shire House,  in  London.  There  were  about  fifteen  hundred  people 
in  attendance  at  this  meeting,  and  the.  baptizing  power  of  the  Lord 
was  felt  to  be  over  us,  whereby  I  was  enabled  to  preach  to  this  in- 
teresting company  "Jesus  and  the  Resurrection,"  in  the  demon- 
stration of  the  sjDirit  and  with  power.  This  meeting  will  long  be 
remembered  by  many  for  good. 

The  29th.'  I  this  morning  attended  a  large  meeting  at  Devon- 
shire House,  and  was  silent.  The  service  of  this  meeting  fell  on 
other  Friends  who  Avere  engaged  in  the  work  of  the  ministry.  In 
the  afternoon  Friends  again  resumed  the  prosecution  of  the  con- 
cerns of  the  Society,  to  good  satisfaction. 

The  two  following  days  the  Yearly  Meeting  progressed  in  the  ad- 
ministration of  the  affairs  of  the  Church  with  feelings  of  deep  in- 
terest, wherein  Friends  manifested  all  due  Christian  condescension 
one  to  another  in  that  love  which  is  the  badge  of  discipleship. 

6th  month,  first.  I  awoke  tliis  morning  under  feelings  of  deep 
discouragement.  0!  it  seemed  to  me  that  I  could  but  cry  out  with 
the  prophet  in  this  language,  "Thou  didst  hide  thy  face,  and  I 
was  troubled."  I  cried  mightily  to  God  for  His  all-sustaining 
power,  and  toward  evening  He  mercifully  heard  me,  and  renewcdly 
manifested  a  degree  of  the  sweetness  of  His  countenance  toward 
me,  so  that  I  felt  a  little  renewedly  built  up  in  the  most  holy  faith. 
Praised  forever  be  His  great  and  worthy  name! 

London  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends  this  day  closed  its  session, 
with  gratitude  to  God  and  love  one  to  another.  I  was  silent  this 
day  in  tliis  meeting,  it  being  a  low  time  with  me.  Many  Friends 
this  day  found  much  good  service  in  this  meeting.  After  the  con- 
clusion of  tliis  Yearly  Meeting,  Friends  parted  one  from  another  in 
Christian  love,  commending  each  other  to  God  and  to  the  word  of 
His  grace,  which  is  able  to  build  u})  and  to  give  an  inheritance 
among  them  which  are  sanctitied. 

It  appears  to  me  that  in  many  instances  that  this  is  one  of  the 
mosi  interesting  Yearly  Meetings  in  our  religious  Society.  Many 
valuable  and  experienced  Friends  belong  to  it,  who  well  understand 
the  doctrine  of  Christianity  according  to  the  Holy  Scriptures,  in 


1850  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  219^ 

connection  with  much  general  knowledge,  and  who  practice  and 
inculcate,  under  divine  grace,  practical  Christianity.  There  are 
many  valuable  ministers  and  elders  belonging  to  this  meeting,  who 
study  to  show  themselves  approved  unto  God,  instruments  in  His 
work,  that  need  not  to  be  ashamed,  rightly  dividing  the  word  of 
trutli;  and  there  are  many  o//^er  dear  and  wortliy  Friends  witliin  the 
limits  of  this  meeting  of  excellent  understanding,  manifesting  in 
life  and  conversation  a  sfrofig  attachment  to  the  doctrine  of  the 
Christian  religion  according  to  the  Holy  8erij)tures. 

Among  the  beloved  youth  in  this  part  of  our  religious  Society 
there  is  much  to  interest  me.  They,  in  many  instances,  //  appears 
to  me, — in  point  of  literary  attainment,  capacity  of  mind  and  intel- 
ligence, both  natural  and  religious, — stand  equal  if  not  superior  to 
any  other  part  of  our  religious  Society ;  and  upon  the  Avhole,  in 
consideration  of  the  general  knowledge  and  intelligence,  the  en- 
larged understanding,  under  divine  grace,  and  the  Christian  for- 
bearance manifested  [lenerally  within  the  limits  of  this  deeply  in- 
teresting Yearly  Meeting,  I  am  oftentimes  humbled  as  in  dust  and 
ashes  with  gratitude  to  God  and  Christian  love  to  all  "our"  dear- 
Friends  everywhere,  believing  that  the  good  spirit  continues  merci- 
fully to  be  with  all  uprightly  concerned  Friends  in  every  part  of 
our  religious  society;  and  very  strong  is  my  desire,  with  jjrayer  and 
supplication  to  God,  that  all  "oicr"  dear  Friends  everywhere  may 
ever  stand  on  the  sure  foundation,  for  the  foundation  of  the  Lord 
standetk  sure,  having  this  seal:  The  Lord  knowcth  them  that  are 
His. 

Friends  of  this  Yearly  Meeting  have  before  them  many  Christian 
benevolent  subjects  of  a  deeply  interesting  nature — the  right  train- 
ing and  the  literary,  guarded,  and  religious  education  of  our  be- 
loved youtli  and  children,  in  connection  with  the  promotion  of 
Scriptural  instruction,  "forms"  a  prominent  part  of  their  Christian 
concern;  and  while  they  are  engaged  in  the  promotion  thereof,  they 
are  not  unmindful  of  the  poor,  but  they  manifest  practically  and' 
liberally  their  Christian  benevolence  to  all  the  objects  of  charity 
that  come  up  within  their  reach  before  them,  not  only  within  the- 
limits  of  our  own  society,  but,  as  way  may  open  for  it,  among  other 
people  also. 

Among  the  various  subjects  of  deep  interest  before  this  Yearly 
Meeting  for  solid  consideration  and  disposal  in  the  light  of  truth,, 
that  of  the  universal  abolition  of  African  slavery,  consistent  with 
the  sj^irit  and  the  peace  of  the  everlasting  gosjiel,  "forms"  a  most 
prominent  place  in  the  Christian  sympathy  and  benevolence  of 
Friends  of  this  meeting.  Long  have  they,  in  the  spirit  of  Christian 
love,  pleaded  the  cause  of  the  oppressed  everywhere,  embracing 
every  right  opening  to  meet  this  subject  before  "those"  in  civil  au- 
thority, expostulating  with  "such  characters"  in  the  spirit  of  meek- 
ness and  forbearance,  to  interpose  for  the  amelioration  of  the  op- 
pressed and  of  the  poor  everywhere. 


"220  JOUKXAL   OF   THOMAS    AIIXETT.  1850 

In  order  more  fulhj  to  represent  the  concern  of  Friends  of  this 
Yearly  Meeting  on  this  deepl}^  affecting  subject,  I  believe  that  it  is 
right  "for  me  here  to  give  a  place  to  the  following  document  adopted 
by  this  meeting  a  year  ago. 
"To  Sovereigns  and  those  in  authority  in  the  nations  of  Eurojje,  and 

in  other  parts  of  the  loorld  where  the  Christian  retigion  is  pro- 
fessed. 
""From  the  YearJg  Meeting  of  the  Religioiis  Society  of  Friends  of 

Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  hetd  in  London,  1849. 

"It  having  pleased  the  Lord  to  bring  our  fathers  to  a  sense  of  the 
cruelty  and  wickedness  of  the  African  slave  trade,  and  of  the  in- 
justice of  holding  their  fellow-men  in  slavery,  they  were  strength- 
ened to  act  upon  the  conviction  wrought  on  their  minds.  They  set 
at  liberty  those  they  held  in  bondage,  and  in  their  faithfulness  they 
enjoyed  the  answer  of  a  good  conscience  towards  God.  In  that 
love  which  comes  from  Him  their  hearts  were  enlarged  in  love  to 
their  neighbor,  and  they  could  not  rest  without  endeavoring  to 
bring  others  to  that  sense  of  justice  and  mercy  to  which  the  Lord 
had  brought  tliem.  From  that  time  to  the  present  day  we  have 
felt  it  to  be  laid  upon  us  as  a  Church  to  bear  a  testimony  against 
the  sin  of  slavery. 

"We  have  believed  it  to  be  our  Christian  duty  to  represent  the 
wrongs  inflicted  upon  the  people  of  Africa,  and  repeatedly  to  plead 
the  cause  of  the  slave  in  addresses  to  our  own  Government.  We 
rejoice  and  are  thankful  at  the  progress  which  has  been  made  in 
this  country  and  in  other  nations  in  this  cause  of  righteousness. 
Hundreds  of  thousands  of  slaves  have  been  restored  to  liberty,  and 
many  of  the  nations  of  the  civilized  world  are  now  to  a  large  extent 
delivered  from  the  guilt  of  the  African  slave  trade — a  trade  which 
the  Congress  of  Vienna  in  1815  pronounced  to  be  "a  scourge  which 
desolates  Africa,  degrades  Europe,  and  afflicts  humanity,"  and  for 
the  supjiression  of  which  laws  have  been  enacted.  But  our  hearts 
are  sorrowful  in  the  consideration  that  this  traflfic  is  still  carried  on 
to  a  large  extent,  and  that  a  vast  amount  of  the  population  of  the 
western  world  still  subject  to  the  cruelty  and  the  wrong  of  slavery. 
We  desire  to  clierish  this  sympathy,  and  that  we  nuiy  behold  the 
increase  of  it  amongst  all  men  everywhere. 

"  One  God  is  the  Creator  of  us  all.  His  eyes  are  in  every  place, 
beholding  the  evil  and  the  good.  He  will  bring  every  work  to  judg- 
ment, and  every  secret  thing,  whether  it  be  good  or  whether  it  be 
evil.  The  families  of  the  earth  are  all  of  one  blood, — all  i)artakers 
in  the  same  corrupt  nature  ;  all  are  alike  subject  to  infirmity,  dis- 
ease and  death,  and  all  amenable  to  the  same  judgment  after  death. 
In  the  grave  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  there  is  no  respect  for 
persons.  He  tasted  death  for  every  man;  all  distinctions  of  coun- 
try, tongue  and  color  are  merged  in  the  immunity  of  that  love 
in  which  the  Father  has  sent  the  Son  to  be  the  Saviour  of  the  world. 


1850  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  22t 

Wlierever  the  religion  of  the  gospel  of  Christ  obtains  proper  place 
within  us,  it  softens  our  hearts;  it  brings  man  into  fellow  feelino- 
with  his  fellow-man  ;  it  brings  him  to  regard  every  man  as  a 
brother,  and  to  look  upon  the  nations  of  the  earth  as  all  of  one 
family.  Among  tlie  millions  of  mankind  there  is  not  one  beneath 
the  notice  of  our  Father  who  is  in  heaven.  If  we  be  partakers  of 
His  love  it  leads  us  into  pity  for  the  forlorn,  the  helpless  and  the 
oppressed,  and  it  constrains  us  to  do  what  we  can  to  mitigate  the 
pain  and  to  assuage  the  sorrows  of  those  who  are  in  suffering;  to 
befrieiid  the  friendless,  and  to  labor  for  the  improvement  of 'the 
condition  of  the  most  degraded  of  our  race. 

*'  We  are  now  assembled  in  our  Yearly  Meeting  for  the  promotion 
of  charity  and  godliness  amongst  ourselves,  and  according  to  our 
measure  for  the  spreading  of  truth  and  righteousness  upon  the 
earth. 

"  The  condition  of  the  nations  of  Africa,  as  affected  by  the  contin- 
uance of  the  slave  trade,  and  that  of  the  slaves  in  North  and  South 
America  and  on  the  islands  adjacent  to  that  continent,  have  again 
awakened  our  sympathy. 

''  We  believe  it  to  be  a  duty  laid  upon  us  to  plead  the  cause  of  these 
our  fellow-men.  We  submit  to  the  consideration  of  all  those  in 
authority  in  the  nations  which  take  upon  them  the  name  of  Christ, 
the  utter  incompatibility  of  slavery  with  the  divine  law,  "Thou 
shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself."  -'All  things  whatsoever  ye 
would  that  men  should  do  to  yon,  do  ye  even  so  to  them."  These 
were  the  precepts  of  our  Lord.  He  spoke  as  never  man  spoke,  and 
of  His  words  He  declared  "Heaven  and  earth  shall  pass  away,  but 
my  words  shall  not  pass  away;"  they  are  the  law  of  God's  righteous- 
ness to  all  generations. 

"  We  submit  whether,  without  breaking  this  law,  it  be  possible  for 
man  to  hold  or  to  claim  a  right  to  pro})erty  in  tlie  person  of  his 
fellow-man;  whether,  admitting  the  sujjreme  authority  of  this  law, 
man  can  buy  or  sell  his  brother;  whether  he  can  withhold  from  those 
who  labor  for  him  that  which  is  just  and  equal;  whether  the  forced 
and  uncompensated  labor  of  the  negro  slave  be  not  the  breaking  of 
this  law — in  short,  whether  any  man  or  any  of  the  nations  of  men  can 
in  anyone  of  these  things  violate  tlie  law  of  the  Lord  and  be  guiltless. 

"  For  the  space  of  three  hundred  years  the  trade  in  slaves  has  been 
carried  on  from  Africa  to  the  opposite  shores  of  the  Atlantic,  and 
this  traffic  in  the  persons  of  men  is  still  prosecuted  with  unrelenting 
and  unmitigated  cruelty.  Year  by  year  countless  multitudes  are  torn 
from  all  that  they  hold  dear  in  life  to  pass  their  days  in  toil  and 
misery.  Men  are  still  to  be  found  so  hardened  in  heart,  so  bent 
upon  the  gain  of  oppression,  and  so  devoid  of  all  that  we  deem  the 
common  feeling  of  humanity,  as  to  spend  their  time  and  talents  in 
pursuit  of  this  criminal  commerce.  We  forbear  to  enter  in  detail 
upon  the  large  variety   of  human  suffering  inseparable  from  this 


^23  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARXETl  1850 

complicated  iniquity.  But  we  trust  we  do  not  take  too  much  upon 
ourselves  in  asking  those  whom  we  now  address  to  open  tlieir  cars 
to  the  groaning  of  the  oppressed,  and  to  give  themselves  to  sympa- 
thy with  their  sufferings;  to  tliink  upon  the  war,  and  rapine,  and 
bloodshed  attendant  upon  the  capture  of  slaves  in  the  interior  of 
j^fj-ica — upon  what  they  are  made  to  endure  in  their  transit  to  the 
coast  and  in  their  passage  across  the  ocean  ;  and  not  to  shrink  from 
making  themselves  acquainted  with  the  horrors  and  loathsomeness 
of  the  slave-ship,  to  follow  the  poor,  helpless,  unoffending  Negro, 
if  he  survive  the  suffering  of  the  voyage,  and  to  think  upon  his 
condition  when  landed  upon  a  foreign  shore,  and  entered  upon  a 
life  of  hard  and  ho})eless  servitude, — it  may  be — to  be  worked  to 
death  in  his  early  manhood,  or  to  live  to  behold  his  children  sub- 
jected to  the  same  degradation  and  oppression  as  himself. 

"Blessed  is  the  man  that  considereth  the  poor.  The  blessing  of 
the  Lord  resteth  upon  him  who,  knowing  the  evil  which  attends 
his  neighbor's  lot  in  life,  is  stretching  forth  his  hand  for  the  relief 
of  his  poverty  and  distress,  and  his  blessing  is  upon  those  who, 
like  the  patriarch  of  old,  are  inquiring  into  the  sorrows  and  hard- 
ships of  the  poor,  the  fatherless,  and  tliose  who  have  none  to  help 
them.     'The  cause  which  I  knew  not,'  said  he,   'I  searched  out.' 

"Our  sympathies  are  awakened  not  for  the  native  African  alone 
and  the  victims  of  the  African  slave-trade;  but  we  feel  for  those 
who  are  living  and  laboring  in  a  state  of  slavery,  who  were  born  in 
slavery,  and  possibly  may  die  subjected  to  its  privation  and  its 
hardships.  In  those  countries  in  which  this  system  is  upheld  by 
law,  man  is  degraded  to  the  condition  of  a  beast  of  burthen,  and 
regarded  as  an  article  of  merchandise.  The  slave  has  nothing  in 
life  that  he  can  call  his  own — his  physical  powei-s,  the  limbs  of  his 
body  belong  to  another  ;  it  can  scarcely  be  said  that  the  faculties  of 
his  mind  are  his  own.  All  that  distinguishes  him  as  a  rational 
creature  is  by  the  law  of  the  State  treated  as  the  property  of 
another.  He  may  be  a  man  fearing  God,  and  desiring  to  api»rove 
himself  a  discii)le  of  Christ ;  we  believe  that  there  are  such.  What- 
ever the  consistency  of  his  character  as  a  Christian,  and  however 
advanced  in  the  cultivation  of  his  mind,  all  avail  him  nothing,  he 
is  still  a  slave,  and  the  law  allows  him  nothing  to  look  to  in  life  but 
hopeless,  helpless,  friendless  slavery.  Endowed  by  his  Maker  with 
capacity  for  enjoyment  like  other  men,  he  has  his  social  affections; 
he  mav  be  honorably  married,  and  in  married  life  surrounded  by 
offspring  dear  to  him  as  his  own  flesh  ;  but  lie  knows  not  the  day 
nor  the  hour  in  which  he  may  be  torn  from  liis  wife,  or  in  which 
his  children,  at  their  tender  age,  may  be  snatched  away,  sold  to  the 
man-trader,  and  carried  into  far-distant  captivity.  So  long  as 
slavery  is  upheld  by  law,  we  can  have  no  security  for  the  extinction 
of  a  trade  in  slaves.  Such  are  the  contingencies  of  the  system 
under  every  modification  of  which  it  is  capable,  that  until  slavery 


1850  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  323 

be  abolished,  men,  women  and  children  will,  we  fear,  be  imjiorted 
from  Africa  and  be  bought  and  sold  like  the  cattle  of  tlie  lield  ; 
and  the  barbarities  of  the  slave  market  will  continue  to  pollute  the 
towns  and  villages  of  those  islands  in  the  West  Indies  in  which 
slavery  exists,  and  in  the  slave-holding  couiitries  of  America. 

"  The  subject  is  so  vast  and  of  such  manifold  atrocity,  we  think, 
that  even  the  history  of  the  whole  world  does  not  furnish  a  parallel 
to  its  crime.  We  deem  it  scarcely  possible  for  a  man  of  the  most 
compehensive  mind  fully  to  possess  himself  of  the  extent  of  the 
evil.  The  Lord  alone  doth  know  ;  none  but  the  Infinite  Mind  can 
comprehend  the  individual  and  aggregate  sufferings  of  those  sub- 
jected to  their  enormities.  God  alone  can  reach  the  heart  and 
awaken  the  conscience.  It  is  our  strong  desire — we  speak  with  a 
reverence  and  fear — it  is  our  prayers  that  He  may  bring  every  one 
to  a  sense  of  his  own  share  in  the  guilt,  and  that,  ceasing  from  his 
iniquity,  the  condemnation  resting  upon  the  man-stealer,  and  njion 
those  who  trade  in  the  persons  of  men,  may  no  longer  attach  itself 
to  any  one  bearing  the  name  of  a  Christian ;  and  thnt  the  slave- 
holder, whether  he  be  -more  or  less  involved  in  the  sin  of  op- 
pression, may  be  brought  to  act  in  obedience  to  the  law  of  impar- 
tial and  uncompromising  equity,  and,  without  hesitation  and  with- 
out delay,  restore  to  immediate  and  unconditional  freedom  every 
slave  that  he  holds  in  bondage. 

"  The  gospel  of  Christ  is  precious  to  us.  Through  the  mercy  of 
God  to  our  s(nils  we  trust  we  are  ]n-epared  in  some  degree  to  appre- 
ciate the  means  which,  in  his  wisdom  and  love,  he  has  provided  for 
the  redemption  of  the  world  and  the  reconciling  of  man  to  himself. 
In  the  word  of  ancient  prophecy,  Christ  was  promised  that  in  him 
all  the  families  of  the  earth  might  be  blessed.  We  cannot  but 
entertain  the  opinion  that  the  enlightenment  of  multitudes  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Africa,  and  their  participation  in  the  ])rivileges  and 
the  consolations  of  the  Christian  religion,  have  been  mucli  retarded 
by  the  evil  deeds  of  many  who  have  gone  among  them  ;  and  espec- 
ially that  the  cruelty  and  wickedness  of  the  slave-trade  have  done 
much  to  keep  them  in  ignorance  of  him  who  died  for  them.  In 
that  love  which  extends  over  sea  and  land,  and  seeks  the  happiness 
of  the  whole  human  race,  we  make  our  appeal  to  those  with  whom 
it  lies,  and  respectfully  press  upon  them  to  take  their  part,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  peaceable  religion  of  Christ,  in  removing  every  imped- 
iment out  of  the  way,  that,  through  the  grace  of  God,  the  African, 
of  every  tribe  and  every  tongue,  may  be  brought  to  the  knowledge 
of  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus. 

"May  it  please  the  Lord  Almighty  to  bless  those  who  reign,  and 
those  who  are  in  authority,  in  every  nation  in  which  Christianity 
is  acknowledged.  May  his  wisdom  preside  in  all  their  councils,  and 
the  law  of  his  righteousness  be  the  rule  of  their  actions.  May  the 
Prince  of  Peace,  Christ  Jesus  our  Savior,  be  honored  wherever  his 


224  JOUKNAL   OF   THOMAS   ARXETT.  1850 

name  is  known.  May  liis  holy  religion  obtain  its  rightful  influence 
in  the  earth,  and  the  people  become  prepared  to  offer  praise  to  God 
in  the  language  uttered  by  the  heavenly  host,  '  Glory  to  God  in  the 
highest,  and  on  earth  peace,  good  will  toward  men.' 

"  Signed  in  and  on  behalf  pf  the  meeting, 
•'George  Stacey, 
'■HJlerh  to  the  meeting  this  near." 

This  address,  through  a  snitable  deputation  from  this  Yearly 
Meeting,  has  been  presented  and  read  officially  before  most  of  the 
Soverigns  in  Europe,  and  has  been  published  and  circulated  in  the 
various  languages  prevalent  among  most  of  the  kingdoms  of  Europe. 
The  object  of  the  prosecution  of  promoting  this  concern  in  this 
way  is  to  call  up  the  attention  of  those  in  civil  authority,  through- 
out the  civilized  nations  of  the  earth,  on  this  deeply  affecting  and 
very  calamitous  subject,  and  to  introduce  such  characters  into  all 
becoming  sympathy  on  behalf  of  those  of  our  fellow  beings  every- 
where who  groan  under  the  cruel  chain  of  bondage  and  oppression; 
and  so  far  as  this  concern  has  been  thus  prosecuted,  it  appears, 
according  to  the  reports  delivered  through  the  deputation  from 
time  to  time,  that  this  address  has  made  a  favorable  impression 
generally  where  it  has  thus  been  thrown  before  the  public. 

Many  dear  Friends  of  this  Yearly  Meeting  appear  to  be  impressed 
with  sorrow  and  regret,  in  consequence,  in  many  instances,  of  the 
present  unsettled  state  of  our  religious  Society,  occasioned  in  a  great 
manner  by  the  spirit  of  controversy,  striving  ''about  words  to  no 
profit,  but  to  the  subverting  of  the"  harmony  and  the  peace  of  the 
church.  I  believe  that  the  truth  is  not  in  this  spirit  of  contro- 
versy, which  in  the  present  day  so  much  disharmonizes  in  some 
parts  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  Therefore  saith  my  spirit,  let  all 
upright  Friends,  everywhere,  more  and  more  "earnestly  contend 
for  the  faith  which  was  once  delivered  unto  the  saints,"  and  also  to 
"  pray  for  the  peace  of  Jerusalem." 

I  believe  that  the  spirit  of  controversy  will  cease  in  the  church  of 
Christ  in  proportion  as  holiness  advances,  and  not  because  there 
will  be  less  love  for  the  truth,  but  because  there  will  be  more  faith 
in  God.  The  man  of  a  small  degree  of  faith  loves  the  church  un- 
doubtedly, and  the  interests  of  the  church,  but  he  fears  it  will  one 
day  fall  under  the  attacks  of  its  adversaries.  The  man  of  strong 
faith  loves  the  church,  but  he  believes  that  the  church  is  safe,  be- 
cause God  is  its  protector.  Having  confidence  in  the  power  of 
truth  to  make  its  own  cause  good,  he  has  less  anxiety  while  he  has 
equal  affection.  The  man  of  little  faith  is  fearful,  and  to  some  ex- 
tent a  selfish  man;  and  these  mental  truths,  naturally  react  upon 
and  exaggerate  his  distrust  of  others.  The  man  of  strong  faith  is 
necessarily  courageous  and  generous,  and  has  every  disposition 
therefore  to  give  to  even  his  enemies  what  is  justly  their  due.  The 
man  of  little  faith,  not  being  able  to  see,  resorts  to  what  is  visible 


1830  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  325 

and  tangible  to  human  instrumentality,  mingled  up,  as  it  often  is, 
with  human  passions.  The  man  of  strong  faith  relies  with  confi- 
dence upon  what  is  unseen,  and  conscientiously  regrets  all  instru- 
mentality which  has  not  God  for  its  author. 

Strong  faith,  by  a  natural  and  unalterable  law,  gives  origin  to 
strong  love,  that  love  which,  in  the  language  of  the  apostle,  suffer- 
eth  long  and  is  kind,  envieth  not,  is  not  easily  provoked — thinketh 
no  evil,  beareth  all  things,  enduretli  all  things. 

Such  faith  resulting  in  such  love,  does  not  give  rise  to  conten- 
tion, but  terminates  it.  It  hushes  the  voice  of  suspicion  and  un- 
kindness.  The  truth  itself  rejects  all  defenses  and  supports  that 
are  not  made  in  a  true  spirit.  It  does  not  need  and  it  cannot  ac- 
cept such  aid.  There  can  be  no  greater  or  more  injurious  error 
than  to  suppose  that  the  truth  requires  or  desires  to  be  sustained 
by  a  false  spirit.  The  truth  has  power,  but  it  is  the  truth  when 
sustained  and  announced  by  a  true  spirit  which  has  the  highest 
power,  the  power  to  overcome  all  its  enemies.  It  is  the  truth  thus 
announced  and  thus  supported  which  shall  harmonize  every  dis- 
cordant interest,  which  shall  bring  to  its  true  standard  every  erring- 
intellect,  which  shall  demolish  every  idol  temple,  and  make  every 
hill  and  valley  vocal  with  the  Saviour's  name! 

Let  all  those  among  us,  saith  my  spirit,  who  stand  as  way-marks 
for  the  flock  of  Christ,  maintain  a  firm  stand  against  all  uncalled- 
for  controversy;  but  let  such  " take  heed  unto "  themselves,  ''and 
to  all  the  flock  over  the  which  the  Holy  Ghost  hath  made"  them 
"overseers,  to  feed  the  church  of  God  which  he  hath  purchased 
with  his  own  blood."  Christ  hath,  by  his  blood,  opened  up  our 
way  to  God,  he  "  hath  once  suffered  for  sins,"  let  all  his  faithful 
followers  therefore  more  and  more  suffer  for  and  with  him,  so  as 
finally  to  obtain  the  crown.  If  we  trace  the  lives  of  the  most  emi- 
nent saints,  shall  we  not  find  every  notable  step  that  is  recorded 
marked  with  a  new  cross,  one  trouble  following  on  another,  as  the 
Avaves  of  the  sea  do  ?  Is  not  this  manifest,  in  many  instances,  in 
the  lives  of  the  holy  prophets  and  apostles,  who  stood  firmly  as 
way-marks  for  the  people  of  God,  and  suffered  jmtieyitly  for  the 
testimony  of  Christ  ?  Thus  the  church,  which  is  likewise  his  body, 
when  it  seems  undone,  when  it  is  brought  to  the  lowest  posture  and 
state,  yet  by  virtue  of  that  mystical  union  with  Jesus  Christ  shall 
•  be  preserved  from  destruction,  and  shall  be  delivered  and  raised  in 
due  time,  yea,  as  he  was  nearest  his  exaltation  in  the  lowest  step  of 
his  humiliation.  So  it  is  with  his  church:  w^hen  things  are  brought 
to  the  most  hapless  appearance,  then  shall  light  arise  out  of  dark- 
ness. Christ  can  and  will  deliver  and  sustain  his  own  church  him- 
self ;  and  I  believe  that  all  uncalled-for  controversy  is  of  most  un- 
happy consequences  to  his  church.  The  foundation  of  God  stand- 
eth  sure,  having  this  seal:  the  Lord  knoweth  them  that  are  his,  he 
bears  the  weight  of  all  their  works,  and  loorTcs  them  in  them  and 


226  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  1850 

for  them,  and  herein  he  ordains  peace  for  them,  for  their  sanctifi- 
cation.  Therefore,  saith  my  spirit,  let  not  the  man  who  is  weak  in 
faith  be  found  so  much  in  thorny  questioning,  doubting  and  dis- 
puting at  every  step,  but  apply  himself  more  sim])ly  to  his  duty, 
studying  to  be  "  quiet,"  and  trusting  alone  to  his  divine  Master. 

The  gracious  design  of  God  in  dealing  with  his  church  is,  in 
many  instances,  to  make  much  room  for  his  grace  by  much  hum- 
bling; and  thus  the  time  is  not  lost,  as  many  suppose,  when  the 
church  is  under  much  affliction;  Imt  trials  patiently  borne  will 
more  and  more  advance  the  cause  of  truth  and  righteousness  in  the 
earth,  for  God  hath  said  in  regard  to  his  dealing  with  his  church, 
''  In  my  wrath  I  smote  thee,  but  in  my  favor  have  I  had  mercy  on 
thee."  "  I  will  make  thee  an  eternal  excellency,  a  joy  of  many 
generations."  Therefore  he  will  ever  preserves  and  protect  his  own 
church  himself.  "  Christ  also  loved  the  church,  and  gave  himself 
for  it,  that  he  might  sanctify  and  cleanse  it  with  the  washing  of 
water  by  the  word,  that  he  might  present  it  to  himself  a  glorious 
church,  not  having  spot  or  wrinkle,  or  any  such  thing;  but  that  it 
should  be  holy  and  without  blemish  ; "  and  he  will  preserve  and 
protect  his  church  through  all  time  to  the  end,  and  finally,  in  the 
great  and  general  day  of  judgment,  he  will  present  it  to  himself  a 
glorious  church.  "  Then  shall  the  righteous  shine  forth  as  the  sun 
in  the  kingdom  of  their  Father."  And  finally,  saith  my  spirit,  let 
all  the  saints  know,  "  that  the  name  of  the  Lord  is  a  strong  tower, 
the  righteous  runneth  into  it  and  is  safe." 

The  2d,  being  First-day,  I  attended  the  morning  and  evening 
meetings  of  Friends  at  Peckham,  and  was  much  favored  in  the 
opening  of  gospel  ministry. 

The  three  following  days  I  delightfully  devoted  to  a  little  respite 
of  body  and  mind,  to  reading,  writing,  and  to  meditation  on  various 
subjects. 

The  Gth.  I  this  day  attended  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends 
at  Tottenham,  which  was,  under  divine  mercy,  made  a  good  and  re- 
freshing season. 

The  7th.  I  this  day  attended  the  Meeting  of  Sufferings  in  Lon- 
don, which  to  me  was  an  opportunity  of  interest  and  improvement. 

The  8tli.  I  this  day  ^'again,"  in  company  with  my  dear  friend 
William  Ball,  set  out  for  Chelmsford,  and  the  next  day  being  First- 
day,  we  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  there  in  the  morning,  and 
in  the  evening  we  held  a  large  public  meeting  there.  Both  these 
meetings  were  seasons  of  much  favor  and  edification  ;  I  was  enabled 
to  deliver  the  doctrine  of  truth  to  good  satisfaction. 

The  10th.  We  proceeded  this  day  to  Colchester  in  order  to  at- 
tend the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends  to  be  held  there,  which  com- 
menced this  evening  with  the  Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders,  and 
the  next  day  a  meeting  for  worship  in  the  morning,  and  in  the 
afternoon  a  meeting  for  the  administration  of  church  discipline. 


1850  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARXETT,  237 

Prior  to  the  meeting  for  worship  very  deep  was  my  exercise,  but  in 
the  meeting  for  worship  I  was  k^l  in  the  opening  of  the  everlasting 
truth  to  labor  in  the  gospel  to  the  relief  of  my  own  mind,  and,  I 
believe,  to  the  satisfaction  of  Friends  ;  and  on  the  12th,  in  the  even- 
ing, we  held  a  good  open  public  meeting  in  this  town  for  Friends 
and  others,  to  good  satisfaction. 

The  13th.  We  this  morning  held  a  glorious  and  heavenly  meet- 
ing at  Dunmow,  the  people  in  attendance  being  in  a  capacity  of 
spirit  to  receive  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it.  They  were  deeply  hum- 
bled and  much  edified,  and  the  great  and  worthy  name  was  adored 
and  exalted  over  all  ;  and  on  the  next  day  we  attended  the  meeting 
of  Friends  at  Stansted,  which,  although  it  was  small,  yet  it  was  a 
heavenly,  refreshing  season  to  Friends. 

The  15th.  We  sjjcnt  this  day  ([uiethi  at  a  Friend's  house  at  Saff- 
ron-Walden,  in  writing,  reading  and  meditation,  and  the  next  day 
being  First-day,  we  attended  Friends'  meeting  there  in  the  morn- 
ing, which  Avas  a  good  refreshing  season  to  Friends  ;  and  in  the 
evening  we  held  a  large  public  meeting  there,  wherein  I  was  much 
opened  in  the  love  of  the  everlasting  gospel  to  speak  to  the  states  of 
the  people.  This  was  a  comfortable  and  glorious  meeting.  Praised 
be  the  Lord  forever  I 

The  17th.  I  this  morning  received  the  following  kind  and  affec- 
tionate letter  from  a  dear  and  symj^athizing  friend,  who  felt  much 
for  me  : 

Chelmsford,  Gth  mo.  15th,  1850. 

My  Dear  Friend:  Since  we  parted  thou  hast  been  very  often  in 
my  remembrance  with  such  affectionate  regard  and  feeling  sympa- 
thy for  thee  that  I  am  inclined  to  send  thee  a  few  lines,  and  would 
a  little  cheer  thee,  if  I  could,  believing  that  thou  hast  often  to  pass 
along  under  feelings  of  depression  and  discouragement ;  but,  dear 
friend,  thy  anchor  is  a  snre  and  safe  one,  and  thy  refuge  is  in  him 
who  remains  to  be  a  never-failing  helper,  the  source  of  all  true  con- 
solation, so  that  thou  hast  great  occasion  to  trust  and  .not  be  afraid. 

We  have  felt  it  a  comfort  and  privilege  to  share  thy  company  and 
to  witness  thy  humility  and  devotedness.  It  ought  to  stimulate  us 
to  "walk  by  the  same  rule,  and  mind  the  same  things,"  by  which 
thou  hast  been  guarded  safely  on  thy  heavenward  journey. 

Accept  this  little  salutation  Avith  much  love,  from  thy  affectionate 
friend,  Caroline  Marriage. 

I  was  this  day  much  comforted  in  my  mind  in  meditation  on  the 
wondrous  works  of  God,  whom  all  within  me  adored  and  worshiped 
in  the  beauty  of  holiness  with  deep  humility. 

We  this  evening  held  a  meeting  for  Friends  and  others  at  Bard- 
field,  wherein  the  Lord  was  mercifully  with  us,  so  that  I  was  en- 
abled to  declare  the  truth  with  such  authority  that  every  soul,  I 
thought,  was  much  humbled  and  reached. 

The  18th.     We  this  evening  held  a  pretty  good  meeting  at  Stebb- 


228  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  iSoO 

ing  for  Friends  and  others,  where  the  light  of  Christ  was  mani- 
fested, it  appeared  to  me,  to  the  humility  of  every  soul  in  attend- 
ance ;  the  sincere  were  much  encouraged  in  the  right  way,  and  .sin- 
ners were  called  to  repentance. 

The  19th.  Our  service  this  day  was  that  of  holding  a  meeting 
this  evening  at  Maldon,  wherein  the  great  duty  of  waiting  upon 
God,  including  thcd  of  divine  worship,  was  illustrated  to  the  humil- 
ity and  edification  of  many  minds. 

The  two  following  days  we  attended  the  service  of  the  Quarterly 
Meeting  of  Friends,  held  at  Ipswich,  which,  through  the  opening  of 
the  everlasting  truth,  was  made  a  glorious  and  heavenly  season;  the 
Good  Shepherd  of  Israel  mercifully  interceded  for  us,  and  enabled 
us  to  worship  him  in  spirit  and  in  truth.  This  was  a  time  long  to 
be  remembered  by  many  for  good.  Praised  forever  be  the  name  of 
God,  for  he  is  worthy  ! 

The  22d.  We  this  evening  held  a  solemn  and  interesting  meet- 
ing at  Woodbridge  for  Friends  and  others,  wherein  the  great  name 
was  exalted  and  adored  in  deep  humility  of  spirit.  Praised  forever 
be  the  Lord  ! 

The  23d,  being  First-day,  we,  in  the  morning,  were  at  Friends' 
meeting  at  Ipswich,  which  was  a  good  and  refreshing  opportunity, 
and  in  the  evening  we  held  a  large  and  very  interesting  meeting 
there,  wherein  the  canopy  of  the  love  of  God  was  sjDread  over  us  to- 
deep  humility,  under  which  the  doctrine  of  Christianity  flowed 
freely. 

The  24th.  I  this  morning  received  a  very  kind  and  affectionate 
letter  from  my  dear  wife,  informing  me  that  with  much  humility 
of  spirit  she  was  pretty  comfortable  both  in  body  and  mind,  and 
that  she  was  fully  resigned  to  the  divine  will  under  all  the  circum- 
stances of  this  life. 

We  this  evening  held  a  small  but  interesting  meeting  for  Friends 
and  others  at  Bury,  wherein  God  Avas  worshiped  in  spirit  and  in 
truth. 

The  25th.  I  was  this  day  much  favored  with  pleasant  religious 
feeling  and  with  sweet  meditation.  We  this  evening  held  a  good 
open  meeting  for  Friends  and  others  at  Sudbury,  wherein  the  warn- 
ing of  the  everlasting  truth  went  forth,  to  the  deep  humility  of 
many  minds. 

The  two  following  days  we  attended  the  service  of  the  (Quarterly 
Meeting  of  Friends  held  at  Norwich,  wherein  we  found  much  good 
service  for  the  Lord,  whose  presence  was  with  us  in  this  meeting,  to 
the  refreshment  of  many  well  concerned  Friends. 

The  28th.  I  this  morning  very  afl'ectionately  parted  with  my 
dear  friend  William  Ball,  who  has  for  some  time  past  very  accept- 
ably been  my  companion  and  fellow  laborer  in  the  love  of  the  gos- 
pel ;  and  Avhile  we  traveled  together  we  were  united  in  the  unity  of 
the  spirit,  in  the  bond  of  peace. 


1850  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  229 

I  this  evening  held  a  joretty  good  meeting  at  Wymondhara,  in  the 
British  school-room,  where  I  thought  some  good  impression  was 
made,  and  the  next  day  I  spent  at  a  friend's  house  in  writing  some 
letters  to  friends  in  America. 

The  30th,  being  First-day,  and  a  time  of  much  divine  favor. 
This  was  my  birthday,  being  fifty-nine  years  of  age.  Deep  was  the 
gratitude  which  was  raised  in  me  this  day  to  the  everhisting  God, 
for  all  his  blessings  and  mercies,  which  have  attended  me  from  the 
time  of  my  birth  up  to  this  day.  All  within  me  praised  him  for 
his  merciful,  protecting  care  extended  to  me  all  my  life  long. 

I  this  morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  in  the  city  of 
Xorwich,  and  in  the  evening  I  held  a  large  and  highly  favored  pub- 
lic meeting  there.  I  was  enabled  in  both  of  these  meetings  to 
preach,  I  believe,  the  everlasting  gospel  in  demonstration  of  the 
spirit  and  with  power,  to  the  humility  and  edification  of  many 
souls. 

7th  month,  first.  A  day  of  much  sweet  and  delightful  medita- 
tion with  me,  wherein  I  secretly  sang  praises  to  Him  who  is  the 
lifter  up  of  my  head  and  the  sustainer  of  my  soul  under  all  circum- 
stances. I  this  evening  held  a  small  but  good  open  meeting  at  Yar- 
mouth for  Friends  and  others. 

The  2nd.  I  this  evening  held  a  most  interesting  meeting  at  Pake- 
field.  The  people  in  attendance  were  deeply  humbled  under  the 
power  of  the  everlasting  truth,  wherein  many  tears  were  shed. 
Blessed  be  God  forever! 

The  3rd.  I  this  evening  held  a  pretty  good  open  meeting  at  Lis- 
ton,  and  the  next  day  I  attended  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends 
there,  which,  through  adorable  mercy,  was  made  a  heavenly  and 
edifyingly  refreshing  season.     Praised  be  the  Lord  I 

The  5th.  I  this  morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at 
Laverbreton,  and  in  the  evening  held  a  meeting  for  Friends  and 
others  at  Kelvedon.  Both  these  meetings  were  pretty  good  refresh- 
ing seasons. 

The  6th.  I  spent  this  day  quietly  at  a  Friend's  house,  in  the 
town  of  Coggeshall,  in  writing  and  meditation  ;  and  the  next  day 
being  First-day,  I  attended  Friends'  meeting  there  in  the  morning, 
which  was  a  small  but  a  good  refreshing  meeting  ;  and  in  the  even- 
ing I  held  a  large  public  meeting  there,  which  was  eminently  owned 
by  the  Good  Shepherd  of  Israel,  whose  presence  was  manifested,  to 
the  humility  and  edification  of  many  minds.  I  was  much  set  at 
liberty  m  this  meeting,  to  the  peace  of  my  own  mind  in  that  true 
love  which  is  the  source  of  all  consolation.  Praised  forever  be 
the  Lord  I 

The  8th.  I  this  morning  held  a  small  but  pretty  good  meeting 
at  Eaii's-Colm,  wherein  the  good  spirit  was  with  us ;  and  in  the 
evening  I  held  a  large  and  heavenly  meeting  at  Halsted,  wherein 
the  everlasting  truth  reigned  over  all.     I  thought  that  religious  im- 


330  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARXETT.  1850 

pression  in  this  meeting  was  formed  in  many  serious  minds,  whicli 
cannot  be  very  soon  erased.  All  the  praise  forever  belongs  to  Him 
who  reigns  in  the  heavens  and  in  the  earth. 

The  9th.  I  this  morning  held  a  good  open  meeting  at  Booking, 
wherein  the  divine  presence  pervaded,  to  the  humility  and  edifica- 
tion of  many  precious  minds;  and  in  the  evening  I  held  rather  a 
trying  meeting  at  Witham.  The  people  in  the  forepart  thereof 
were  very  much  unsettled  in  their  minds,  particularly  the  youth 
and  the  children,  which  1  find  is  often  the  case  in  this  country, 
which  is  very  much  owing,  I  believe,  to  their  training  and  educa- 
tion. I  at  length,  however,  arose  with  much  weakness,  and  after 
desiring  the  people  in  Christian  love  to  be  stiU  in  body  and  mind 
while  in  this  meeting,  strength,  wisdom  and  utterance  then  being 
mercifully  given,  so  that  this  meeting  ended  in  degree  to  the  i)raise 
and  glory  of  God. 

The  10th.  I  this  day  again  attended  the  usual  meeting  of 
Friends  at  Chelmsford,  as  it  came  in  course,  wherein  the  baptizing 
power  of  the  Lord  was  felt  to  be  over  the  meeting,  under  the  con- 
straining power  of  the  everlasting  gospel.  I  was  much  favored  in 
this  meeting,  and  in  the  afternoou  I  went  to  Tottenham,  where  on 
the  next  day  I  again  attended  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends,  and 
was  therein  favored  with  a  short  but  impressive  testinion}^,  to  the 
satisfaction  of  Friends. 

The  12th.  I  spent  this  ^d^y  quietly  at  the  kind  house  of  my  dear 
friend  George  Stacey,  who,  with  his  dear  wife  and  children,  were 
very  kind  to  me  in  Christian  love  and  sympathy.  I  this  day  wrote 
some  letters  for  America,  of  which  one  was  affectionately  for  my  dear 
wife. 

The  13tli.  I  this  morning,  with  feelings  of  the  deepest  humility, 
in  company  with  my  dear  friends,  George  Stacey  and  Charles  Fox, 
set  out  for  Norway.  We  went  early  this  morning  on  the  railroad  at 
Tottenham,  near  London,  for  Hull,  upwards  of  two  hundred  miles, 
where  we  landed  in  the  evening  in  time  to  go  on  l)oard  the  Courier, 
the  British  mail  steamer,  near  midnight ;  and  the  next  day  being 
First-day,  we  held  one  little  meeting  for  worsiiip  to  ourselves, 
wherein  our  spirits  were  mutually  refreshed  togetiier  in  Christian 
love. 

We  landed  at  Christian-Sands  in  Norway,  after  having  in  some 
degree  a  rough  passage,  wherein  I  was  pretty  much  sea  sick,  at  3 
o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  IGth,  where  we  rested  at  an  inn  till  7 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  when  we  set  out  by  land  on  a  double  and 
single  cariole  for  Mandal,  where  we  landed,  after  traveling  forty 
miles,  at  3  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  17th.  The  road  on  which 
we  traveled  passing  tiirough  a  broken  and  mountainous  country, 
was  therefore  very  rough,  so  that  it  was  very  ditlicult  to  travel  so  as 
to  be  out  of  danger,  but  we  were  mercifully  preserved  in  safety  on 
every  hand.     It  is  in  this  season  of  the  year  light  all  night  in  this 


1850  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS   AKNETT.  231 

country.  The  sun  hides  himself  a  very  few  hours  about  midnight, 
but  not  so  as  to  withdraw  his  reflecti7ig  light  at  this  season  of  the 
year  from  this  part  of  the  globe.  'J'his  night  was  a  trying  and 
gratifying  time  to  us — ti'ying  on  account  of  the  dangerous  travel- 
ing, and  gratifying  on  account  of  the  wondrous  display  of  nature 
continually  springing  up  before  us,  in  respect  to  the  lofty,  craggy 
mountains,  very  generally  on  each  side  of  us.  The  night  was  clear 
and  serene,  and  everything  before  us  was  calculated  to  inspire  de- 
votional feelings,  with  deep  humility  to  that  worthy  and  Almighty 
Being  wlio  provides  for  "man  and  beast." 

We  left  Mandal  at  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  this  day,  and  went 
on  board  of  a  Norwegian  steamer  for  Stavanger,  where  we  landed, 
with  thankful  hearts  to  the  great  giver  of  every  good  and  perfect 
gift,  at  10  o'clo(;k  in  the  evening  of  the  ISth. 

This  passage  on  this  steamer  was  very  delightful  and  interesting, 
seeing  so  very  impressively  before  us  the  wondrous  works  of  God  ; 
beholding  on  one  hand  the  wonders  of  the  mighty  deep,  and  on  the 
other  hand,  very  frequently,  lofty  and  rocky  mountains  were  pre- 
sented to  our  view;  so  that  everything  before  us  was  calculated  to 
inspire  sweet  meditation  to  the  Almighty  Creator  of  the  world  and 
all  things  therein. 

The  19th.  I  awoke  this  morning  with  sick-stomach  complaint. 
I  felt  discouraged  and  cast  down  in  spirit,  being  very  far  from  home, 
among  a  j^eople  of  a  strange  language,  and  being  in  poor  health,  un- 
der the  care  of  public  inn-keepers,  the  place  of  our  lodging,  who 
were  very  kind  to  us.  Under  consideration  of  all  things  around  me 
I  felt  humbled  as  in  sack-cloth  and  ashes.  I  poured  out  my  soul 
in  secret  prayer  and  supplication  to  him  who  had  sent  me  to  this 
part  of  the  world;  and  he  heard  me,  and  mercifnlly  comforted  my 
bowed  down  soul.  I  took  a  little  medicine  and  soon  found  relief  in 
my  stomach.  In  the  evening  we  attended  the  meeting  of  those 
professing  with  Friends  at  Stavanger,  and  were  much  comforted  in 
sitting  in  silence  with  them;  and  the  next  day  we  sjient  at  our 
lodging,  in  writing  and  meditation. 

The  31st  being  First-day,  and  a  time  of  deep  exercise  with  me, 
accompanied  with  true  humility  of  spirit,  prayer  was  raised  in  me 
to  the  Lord  that  he  would  open  the  way  for  me  in  this  country, 
for  I  had  none  other  to  look  to,  being  a  stranger  among  a  people  of 
a  strange  language ;  great  was  the  responsibility  that  I  felt  resting 
upon  me.  I  was,  however,  well  assured  that  the  Clood  Shepherd  of 
Israel  had  mercifully  sent  me  into  this  country  for  the  pnmiotion 
of  his  good  cause.  I  therefore  took  fresh  courage  and  trusted  c//o?3e 
in  him. 

We  this  morning  attended  the  meeting  of  those  professing  with 
Friends  at  Stavanger.  There  were  about  a  hundred  people  in  at- 
tendance. After  sitting  with  them  in  silence  about  one  hour,  all 
of  my  certificates  were  read  to  them  as  translated  in  the  Danish 


232  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  1850 

lano-uage  by  the  reader,  which  is  the  Language  spoken  in  this  coun- 
try ;  after  the  reading  of  which,  my  dear  friend  Endre  Dahl  was 
selected  to  be  my  interpreter  during  the  prosecution  of  my  relig- 
ious engagement  wliile  in  this  country,  through  Avhom  I  spoke  a 
little  to  this  interesting  company,  with  feelings  of  great  humility 
and  tenderness;  so  that  the  meeting  closed  under  a  precious  cover- 
ing of  Christian  solemnity. 

In  the  afternoon  we  held  another  meeting  there,  when  about  two 
hundred  people  attended,  among  whom  I  delivered  a  short  but  im- 
l^ressive  testimony.  The  power  of  truth  was  felt  to  be  over  this 
meeting,  whereby  we  were  enabled  to  worship  God  in  spirit  and  in 
truth.  The  meeting  closed  with  feelings  of  deep  humility.  Praised 
forever  be  the  Lord  I 

The  32nd.  We  this  day,  in  the  opening  of  the  everlasting  truth, 
entered  upou  a  family  visit  to  those  professing  with  Friends  in  these 
parts;  and  we  visited  this  day  in  the  town  of  Stavanger  about 
eighteen  families,  to  good  satisfaction.  The  Lord  was  with  us  and 
gave  us  much  good  service  this  day. 

The  23rd.  We  this  morning  proceeded  on  a  little  sail  boat  to 
Hunmaag  Island,  and  through  the  course  of  the  day  we  visited 
about  ten  families  of  those  jirofessing  with  Friends  on  that  island, 
and  in  the  evening  we  held  a  iniblic  meeting  there  at  the  dwelling- 
house  of  our  dear  friend  Eudre  Dahl,  my  interpreter,  to  good  sat- 
isfaction. There  were  about  two  hundred  people  in  attendance, 
who  were  serious  and  attentive.  The  Good  Shepherd  of  Israel  was 
mercifully  with  us  this  day,  and  gave  us  strength  and  wisdom  suf- 
ficient for  his  good  work  required  of  us  through  this  day. 

The  24th.  We  proceeded  this  morning  on  a  little  sail  boat  to 
Dusevigan,  rather  a  country  place;  and  after  visiting  several  fami- 
lies of  those  professing  with  Friends,  we  held  in  the  evening  a  very 
interesting  meeting  in  the  open  air;  upwards  of  a  hundred  people 
attended,  who  were  very  serious  and  attentive,  and  the  Lord  had 
mercy  upon  us.  and  sent  forth  his  call  through  the  love  of  the  gos- 
pel to  the  tendering  of  many  hearts,  even  to  the  shedding  of  many 
sincere  tears. 

The  25th.  We  this  day  visited  about  ten  families  of  Stavanger, 
and  attended  the  meeting  of  our  dear  Friends  there,  as  it  came  in 
course.  There  were  about  a  hundred  people  in  attendance,  who 
Avere  very  serious,  to  whom  my  mind  was  opened  iu  gospel  love,  to 
the  deep  humility  of  spirit  of  all  in  attendance,  many  of  whom 
poured  forth  their  tears  in  great  tenderness  of  spirit. 

The  26th.  We  set  out  this  morning  in  a  little  sail  boat  for 
Strandsogn,  where  we  landed  after  about  two  hours"  delightful  sail, 
and  in  the  afternoon  we  held  a  meeting  there.  About  a  hundred 
people  attended.  The  meeting  was  hekl  at  the  dwelling-house  of  a 
friendly  man,  who  was  very  kind  to  us.  The  people  in  attendance 
were  serious  and  much  broken  down  in  spirit,   among  whom  I  was 


1850  JOUENAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT,  233 

drawn  to  bear  the  Lord's  testimony,  much  to  their  cnconragement, 
and  in  the  evening  we  had  a  religious  opportunity  with  several  fam- 
ilies of  those  professing  witli  Friends  there,  to  good  satisfaction; 
after  which  we  returned  to  our  lodgings  at  Stavanger,  on  our  little 
sail-boat,  where  we  spent  the  next  day  in  reading,  writing  and  in 
religious  meditation. 

The  28th,  being  First-day,  deep  was  the  exercise  of  my  mind 
this  day.  I  felt  poor  and  needy;  my  spirit  was  raised  in  prayer 
and  supplication  to  God,  "with  groanings  which  cannot  be  uttered." 
I  desired  His  all-sustaining  power  above  every  other  consideration, 
knowing  that  I  had  none  other  to  depend  on  to  euable  me  for  the 
discharge  of  all  my  religious  duties ;  and  He  mercifully  heard  my 
secret  cry  this  day,  and  enabled  me  for  the  work  of  the  day. 

We  this  day  attended  the  fore  and  afternoon  meeting  of  our  dear 
friends  at  Stavanger,  there  being  about  two  hundred  people  in  at- 
tendance on  each  occasion,  among  whom  my  mind  was  very  much 
opened  in  the  love  of  the  everlasting  gospel,  to  the  comfort  and 
•edification  of  the  spirits  of  our  dear  friends,  who  shed  many  tears 
with  us  under  the  power  of  the  truth.  We  also  this  day  had  relig- 
ious opportunity  with  several  families  of  our  dear  friends,  to  very 
good  satisfaction. 

The  29th.  We  set  out  this  morning  on  a  little  sail-boat  for  the 
island  of  Renmsoe,  where  we  landed  in  time  to  hold  a  public  meet- 
ing in  the  afternoon,  in  a  barn.  About  two  hundred  people  at- 
tended, who  were  very  serious,  and  appeared  to  be  willing  to  receive 
the  truth  delivered  among  them  in  the  love  of  it;  and  after  the 
meeting  closed,  they  manifested  towards  us  warm  feelings  of  friend- 
ship. 

In  the  evening  we  had  religious  opportunity  with  several  families 
on  this  island — of  those  professing  with  Friends — to  very  good  sat- 
isfaction; after  which  we  returned  on  our  little  sail-boat  to  our 
lodgings  at  Stavanger,  where  we  spent  the  night  with  peaceful 
mind. 

The  30th.  A  day  long  to  be  remembered  by  many.  I  awoke  this 
morning  under  much  exercise  of  spirit,  attended  with  discourage- 
ment of  mind.  I  cried  to  the  everlasting  God  for  his  mercy  and 
for  his  all-sustaining  power,  and  he  in  his  own  time  heard  me,  and 
strengthened  me  for  the  prosecution  of  his  good  work  before  me. 
We  this  evening  held  a  deeply  interesting  and  a  large,  crowded 
meeting  at  Stavanger,  in  the  Moravian  chapel.  The  ]ieople  in  at- 
tendance were  very  serious  and  attentive,  among  whom  I  was  much 
opened  in  the  love  of  the  everlasting  gospel.  Divine  truth  was  dis- 
tilled upon  this  meeting  as  the  heavenly  dew,  and  many  hearts  were 
open  to  receive  it  in  the  love  of  it;  and  the  great  name  of  God  was 
exalted  and  glorified.  Many  hearts  were  softened  and  broken  down, 
and  many  tears  were  shed;  the  blessed  truth  reigned  over  all,  and 
the  meeting  closed  with  thanksgiving  to  the  Good  Shepherd  of  Is- 
rael for  all  his  blessings  and  mercies. 


234  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AllNETT.  1850 

The  31st.  A  day  long  to  be  remembered  for  good.  We  this  day- 
attended  the  Two  Months'  Meeting  among  those  professing  with 
Friends  at  Stavanger — a  meeting  institnted  by  them  for  church  dis- 
cipline— and  they  transacted  the  concerns  that  came  before  them  in 
the  unity  of  spirit  and  in  the  bond  of  peace.  About  two  hundred 
people  attended  the  meeting  for  worship,  held  prior  to  their  pro- 
ceeding to  business,  among  whom  I  was  most  impressively  opened 
in  the  love  of  the  gospel.  Under  the  constraining  power  thereof 
they  poured  forth  their  tears,  and  my  tears  also  responded  to  theirs, 
under  feelings  of  the  deepest  humility.  This  was  a  heart-melting 
meeting;  every  soul  in  attendance  was  bowed  down  as  in  dust  and 
ashes,  and  a  Christian  solemnity  covered  the  meeting  which  cannot 
be  well  described. 

This  was  my  farewell  meeting  with  these  tender-hearted  people, 
never  expecting  again  to  see  them  in  this  world;  therefore  strong- 
was  our  desire  that  we  all  might  so  walk  and  so  conduct  ourselves 
while  in  time  as  finally  to  be  accounted  worthy  to  meet  in  heaven, 
where  parting  will  be  no  more.  We  were  together  this  day  under 
the  refreshing  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  this  meetnig  closed 
with  gratitude  to  God,  and  the  tenderest  love  one  to  another,  and 
this  meeting  closed  our  service  at  Stavanger. 

While  there  we  visited  upwards  of  fifty  families  of  those  profess- 
ing with  Friends  in  those  parts,  to  mutual  satisfaction  and  refresh- 
ment of  spirit.  The  Lord  was  mercifully  with  us  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  this  visit,  and  gave  us,  from  time  to  time,  strength  and  wis- 
dom to  the  glory  of  his  name. 

In  the  prosecution  of  our  visit  to  these  tender-hearted  people,  we 
were  oftentimes  deeply  humbled.  The  tenderness  we  have  witnessed 
among  them,  and  their  cordial  reception  of  our  visits  in  their  hum- 
ble dwellings,  have  been  much  to  our  comfort;  and,  not  in  a  few 
instances,  have  we  been  ministered  unto,  though  not  by  Avord,. 
yet  by  the  salutation  of  their  spirits  in  Christian  love.  From  day  to 
day  we  felt  our  responsibility  while  among  this  tender-hearted  and 
awakened  people. 

In  order  more  fully  to  show  the  feeling  of  this  awakened  people 
toward  us,  and  their  Christian  acknowledgment  of  our  visit  to  them, 
I  will  here  give  a  record  of  their  testimony  of  our  service  among 
them,  in  the  following  certificate,  which  they  issued  this  day  on 
our  behalf: 

''In  this,  our  Two  Months'  Meeting,  we  have  the  pleasure  of 
having  in  our  presence  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  from  Indiana  Yearly 
Meeting  in  North  America,  Thomas  Arnett,  and  two  members, 
George  Stacey  and  Charles  Fox,  from  England.  These  Friends  are 
on  a  religious  visit  to  us;  we  therefore  believe  it  right  on  theioresent 
occasion  to  express  our  feelings  of  gratitude,  first,  towartl  God,  from 
Avhom  all  good  gifts  come,  and  next,  towards  our  friends  present, 
for  their  sympathy  and  services  for  our  spiritual  growth  and  eternal 
happiness. 


1850  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  235- 

"We  have  great  occasion  for  being  ashamed  when  we  look  upon 
their  zeal,  their  labor  and  their  devotion,  only  for  the  eternal  hap- 
piness of  their  fellow  men;  and  Friends,  when  rightly  examining 
ourselves,  must  we  not  acknowledge  that  we  are  wholly  unworthy 
of  so  much  mindfulness  ?  The  kind  exhortations  which,  we  feel, 
have  reached  and  afresh  warmed  our  hearts,  is  a  renewed  grace  from 
the  Lord  towards  us.  Great  will  our  responsibility  be  if  we  do  not 
earnestly  mind  these  blessings,  and  seek  to  come  nigh  the  fountain 
of  life,  whereby  our  souls  may  be  refreshed.  Yea,  seek  more  ear- 
nestly, each  for  himself,  to  watch  against  the  dreadful  fruits  of 
slothfulness,  that  this  evil  may  not  spring  forth  and  appear  to  us 
ourselves,  or  to  others,  that  we  have  ceased  to  love  Him  above  all 
things  who  first  loved  us  so  much.  Let,  therefore,  a  renewed  fer- 
vency become  our  happy  portion,  that  we  may  bear  fruit  to  the 
honor  of  Him  who  called  us.  Then  will  the  loving  kindness  which 
our  present  friends  have  evinced  be  rewarded,  and  the  parting  with 
them  will  not  then  become  hard,  though  we  should  not  see  one  an- 
other any  more;  hoping  that  as  we  continue  faithful  and  watchful 
until  the  evening  ol  our  Christian  combat,  we  shall  behold  one  an- 
other in  eternal  luqipiness.  On  this  blessed  occasion  we  believe  it 
right  to  preserve  a  testimony  of  our  dear  friends,  Thomas  Arnett, 
George  Stacey  and  Charles  Fox,  who,  in  great  humility  and  Christ- 
ian simplicity,  have  visited  every  one  of  us  in  our  own  houses,  and 
communicated  suitable  admonitions  to  our  states;  and  they  have 
also  held  several  public  meetings  for  worship  in  our  neighboring 
l^arts,  where  Thomas  Arnett  very  effectively  has  spoken  to  the  state 
of  the  people,  by  which  many  have  evidently  been  touched.  Thus 
has  he  in  the  Lord's  garden  watered  the  seed  which  the  Lord  alone 
can  give  growth  unto. 

Signed  in  and  on  behalf  of  the  Two  Months'  Meeting  held  at 
Stavanger,  on  the  31st  of  the  7th  month,  1850. 

"By  Endre  Dahl." 

We  this  morning,  with  feelings  of  deep  humility,  left  Stavanger 
and  went  on  board  of  a  Norwegian  steamer.  Many  of  those  profess- 
ing with  Friends,  and  many  other  friendly  people  accompanied  us 
to  the  water-side,  where  they  took  a  most  hearty  and  affectionate 
leave  of  us,  we,  under  much  religious  feeling,  mutually  commend- 
ing one  another  to  God  and  to  the  word  of  his  grace  manifested  in 
the  heart,  never  expecting  to  meet  again  in  this  world,  therefore 
very  earnest  was  our  desire  that  we  might  ever  Avalk  the  life  of  the 
righteous,  and  finally  be  favored  to  meet  in  heaven  where  parting 
will  be  no  more.  Thus  we  parted  with  this  tender.  Christian,  and 
awakened  people,  whom  God  mercifully  gathered  through  the  draw- 
ing of  his  good  spirit  to  be  as  a  light,  I  believe,  in  this  part  of  the 
earth  ;  and  in  parting  with  them  in  brokenness  of  heart  and  in  tears, 
I  commended  them  to  him  who  is  able  to  keej)  them  from  falling. 


236  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  1850 

and  to  present  them  faultless  before  the  presence  of  his  glory,  in 
the  heavens,  with  exceeding  joy. 

Eighth  month,  first.  We  this  morning,  about  C  o'clock,  landed  at 
Christian  Sands,  where  we  lodged  through  the  night,  and  on  the 
next  day,  the  2nd,  we  held  a  most  interesting  meeting  there,  in  a 
large  room  of  the  Britannia  Hotel,  fitted  up  for  the  pur^DOse.  This 
was  a  large  and  favored  meeting;  every  soul  in  attendance  Avas 
hushed  down  in  profound  silence,  and  the  name  of  God  was  exalted 
over  all,  and  at  the  close  of  the  meeting  the  people  most  affection- 
ately took  their  leave  of  us  with  tears  and  brokenness  of  heart.  Here 
I  most  affectionately  parted  with  my  dear  friend  Endre  Dahl,  of 
Stavanger,  who  had  been  very  acceptably  my  interpreter  in  the 
prosecution  of  my  visit  in  Norway.  We  this  afternoon,  at  3  o'clock, 
again  went  on  board  of  our  steamer,  and  had  a  pleasant  sail  on  the 
wati-rs  of  the  German  Ocean  till  the  next  evening,  the  3rd,  about 
8  o'clock,  when  a  very  awful  storm  arose,  which  continued  raging 
Avith  awful  fury  for  about  the  space  of  ten  hours,  causing  the  sea  to 
be  very  boisterous,  during  which  time  I  was  very  sea-sick.  This  was 
an  awful  night,  our  steamer  being  plunged  up  and  down  over  the 
furious  Avaves,  and  not  knowing  what  minute  we  might  be  thrown 
into  eternity  ;  but  during  this  trying  time  I  felt  perfectly  peaceful 
and  resigned  in  my  mind  to  him  Avho  had  sent  me  forth  to  proclaim 
the  glad  tidings  of  the  gospel.  When  the  storm  a  little  passed  away, 
and  we  were  favored  to  see  the  first  day  of  the  week,  the  4th,  we, 
with  thankful  hearts  to  God  for  all  his  mercies  and  deliverances, 
held  our  little  meeting,  which  was  to  our  mutual  strength  in  him 
whose  name  "is  a  strong  tower,  the  righteous  runneth  into  it,  and 
is  safe." 

We  were  favored  at  Umjtli,  on  the  next  day,  the  5th,  at  3  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon,  to  land  at  the  port  of  Travemunda,  where  we  imme- 
diately took  coaching  for  the  city  of  Hamburgh,  a  distance  of  about 
fifty  miles,  and  Ave  landed  there  about  11  o'clock  this  morning, 
where  Ave  left  on  the  next  day,  the  6th,  in  the  morniiigat  11  o'clock, 
on  railroad,  and  landed  in  the  evening  at  the  city  of  Hanover, 
Avhere  we  left  on  the  next  morning,  the  7th,  on  railroad,  and  landed 
late  in  the  evening  at  the  city  of  Cologne,  where  early  on  the  next 
morning,  the  8th,  Ave  left  on  railroad  and  landed  in  the  evening 
about  0  o'clock  at  Ostcnd.  And  I  believe  that  the  following  night 
Avas  one  of  the  most  dangerous  and  aAvful  nights  that  I  ever  passed 
through.  We  proceeded  this  evening  to  pass  over  the  English 
channel  to  Dover,  being  about  sixty  miles  over  across.  We  went 
on  l)oard  of  a  little  sail  packet  in  company  Avith  about  fifty  pas- 
sengers, in  order  to  pass  over  a  sand-bar,  so  as  to  go  on  board  of  a 
Belgian  steamer  which  Avas  Avaiting  for  us  on  tlie  opposite  side  of 
the  bar.  When  our  little  sail  packet  came  to  the  bar,  the  tide  Avas 
ra])idly  rising,  and  a  very  aAvful  wind  storm  arose,  and  the  mighty 
waves  Avere  raging  in  aAvful  fury.     I  cannot  describe  the  awfulness 


18.50  JOUllNAL   OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  337 

and  grandeur  of  this  deeply  affecting  scene.  It  appeared  to  me,  ac- 
cording to  natural  observation,  that  we  would  all  be  instantaneously 
thrown  into  eternity,  and  this  was  the  general  opinion  of  the  pas- 
sengers. For  my  own  part,  I  soon  became  centered  down  in  spirit 
in  obedience  of  faith,  and  felt  perfectly  resigned  to  the  divine  will, 
and  felt  that  I  had  none  to  depend  upon  but  tlie  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ,  whom,  in  my  spirit,  I  most  earnestly  supplicated  for 
his  mercy  and  protection  toward  all  of  us  at  this  awful  time,  and  I 
believe  that  he  mercifully  interposed  for  us  and  gave  me  the  assur- 
ance that  we  should  all  pass  over  the  channel  in  safety.  Our  little 
sail  packet,  as  slie  passed  over  the  bar,  was  continually  plunged 
up  and  down  over  the  awful,  furious  waves,  and  every  time  when 
she  was  plunged  down  from  the  waves  she  was  dashed  upon  the  bar 
with  such  violence  that  it  seemed  that  she  would  be  instantly  bursted 
all  to  pieces,  and  the  water  so  violently  dashed  in  upon  her  so  as  to 
wet  us  all  over,  and  we  had  to  lay  hold  strongly  on  her,  to  keep 
from  being  thrown  out  of  her.  We  at  length  were  favored  merci- 
fully to  pass  over  this  bar  in  safety,  and  Avitli  much  difficulty  to  go 
on  board  the  steamer  for  Dover,  where  we  landed  on  tlie  next  morn- 
ing about  6  o'clock,  after  passing  through  a  most  boisterous  and 
stormy  night,  during  which  time  I  was  very  sea-sick,  our  steamer 
being  plunged  up  and  doAvn  all  night  over  the  awful,  furious  waves. 

After  resting  awhile  here,  and  taking  some  refreshment,  we  left 
Dover  and  went  on  a  railroad  conveyance  for  the  residence  of  my 
dear  friend  George  Staeey,  of  Tottenham,  where  Ave  landed  in  the 
evening  with  feelings  of  deep  humility  and  gratitude  to  him  who 
was  mercifully  with  us  in  the  prosecution  of  the  dedication  of  this 
our  late  service  in  obedience  to  his  blessed  will.  We  felt  our  minds 
inspired  with  thankfulness  to  him,  not  only  for  his  mercy  and  pro- 
tection manifested  to  us  while  on  this  perilous  journey,  but  also  for 
his  kind  providence  bestowed  upon  us  throughout  all  our  life  long. 
Here  I  very  affectionately  parted  with  my  dear  friend  Charles  Fox, 
who  was  very  useful  on  this  journey  in  various  ways,  manifesting 
to  me  all  becoming  Christian  sympathy  and  kindness. 

The  10th.  I  rested  this  day  quietly  at  the  kind  house  of  my  dear 
friend  George  Staeey,  who  had  been  a  most  acceptable  companion 
to  me  on  this  late  trying  journey;  he  is  a  worthy  and  a  very  expe- 
rienced friend. 

The  11th,  being  First-day,  I  attended  Friends'  Meeting  in  the 
morning  at  Stoke-IS^ewington,  and  in  the  evening  at  Tottenham, 
and  was  thankful  in  spirit  again  to  be  with  Friends  who  could  un- 
derstand my  speech  and  language. 

The  12th.  I  this  morning  attended  the  Second-day  meeting  of 
ministers  and  elders  in  London,  and  was  much  comforted  under  the 
covering  of  the  Christian  sympathy  manifested  toward  me  by 
Friends  of  this  meeting;  and  in  the  evening  I  went  to  Saffron- 
Walden,  where  I  spent  the  next  day  in  writing  and  visiting  fami- 


^38  JOUllXAL    OF   THOMAS    ARXETl  1850 

lies,  ]iarticularly  such  families  of  Friends  who  were  not  able  through 
indisposition  to  attend  meeting. 

The  14th.  I  this  day  attended  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends, 
held  at  Wisbeach,  which  was  a  good,  comfortable  meeting;  tind  on 
the  next  day  in  the  evening  I  held  a  good  open  meeting  there,  in 
the  Baptist  chapel.  The  truth  reigned  over  all  in  this  meeting. 
Praised  forever  be  the  Lord! 

The  16th.  I  this  evening  held  a  large  and  very  interesting  meet- 
ing at  Lynn,  in  the  Town  Hall.  The  warning  and  the  invitation 
of  tiie  everlasting  gospel  went  forth  in  this  meeting,  to  the  deep 
humility  and  edification  of  many  souls.  The  sincere  were  en- 
couraged in  the  way  of  life  and  salvation,  and  sinners  were  called 
to  repentance,  and  the  meeting  solemnly  closed  with  prayer  and 
supplication  to  God. 

The  17th.  I  this  day  went  to  Chatteris,  and  the  next  day  being 
First-day,  I  attended  Friends'  Meeting  there  in  the  morning,  which 
was  a  small  but  comfortable  meeting  ;  and  in  the  evening  I  held  a 
public  meeting  there,  in  the  Methodist  chapel.  About  a  thousand 
people  attended,  who  were  very  serious  and  attentive.  Divine  truth 
reigued  over  all  in  this  meeting. 

The  19th.  I  this  evening  held  a  pretty  good  and  open  meeting 
at  Earith.  Those  in  attendance  appeared  to  be  people  in  the  lower 
walks  of  life,  but  they  appeared  to  be  sober  and  thoughtful  ;  and 
through  divine  mercy  my  mouth  was  opened  unto  them,  and  my 
heai't  was  enlarged  toward  them  in  the  love  of  the  everlasting 
gospel. 

The  20th.  I  this  evening  held  a  meeting  at  Sutton,  wherein, 
after  waiting  awhile  in  silence,  the  everlasting  truth  opened  my 
Avay  to  deliver  the  testimony  of  the  gospel  to  the  people,  to  their 
deep  humility  and  edification  of  soul.  Praised  forever  be  the  name 
of  God! 

The  21st.  I  this  evening  held  a  small  but  pretty  good  meeting 
at  Huntingdon.  The  people  in  attendance  appeared  to  be  generally 
religious,  and  desirous  to  receive  Christian  instruction,  which  Avas 
mercifully  given  in  gosjiel  love,  to  their  humility  and  edification. 

The  22nd.  I  this  evening  held  a  public  meeting  in  Friends'  meet- 
ing-house at  Cambridge.  Though  no  Friends  reside  there,  yet  they 
have  a  good  meeting-house  there,  which  is  occupied  occasionally  by 
Friciuls  who  are  engaged  in  the  public  work  of  the -ministry,  in 
holding  pul)lic  meetings  for  divine  worship;  and  the  meeting  held 
there  on  this  occasion  was  large,  and  of  a  deeply  interesting  nature, 
wherein  I  was  called  upon,  in  the  demonstration  of  the  si)irit,  and 
Avith  power,  a  little  to  illustrate  the  doctrine  of  conversion  to  God, 
regeneration  and  holiness,  according  to  the  Holy  Scriptures.  The 
people  appeared  to  be  very  serious,  and  manifested  a  disposition  of 
mind  to  receive  the  truth  of  the  doctrine,  which  was  delivered  in 
the  love  of  Christianity.     Praised  forever  be  the  Lord! 


1850  JOUKNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  239 

The  23rd,  I  this  evening  held  a  pretty  good  meeting  at  Ives, 
where  the  testimony  of  truth  went  forth,  to  the  humility  and  edi- 
fication of  many  tender  minds. 

The  24th.  1  traveled  this  day  to  Attleborough,  and  the  next  day 
being  First-day,  I  attended  meeting  in  the  morning  with  the  few 
Friends  there,  whicli,  though  it  was  very  small,  yet  we  were  favored 
with  the  divine  presence;  and  in  the  evening  I  held  a  large  and 
highly  favored  meeting  there  in  the  Baptist  chapel.  The  presence 
of  the  Lord  was  mercifully  with  us  on  tliis  occasion,  and  the  right- 
eous were  much  encouraged  in  the  good  old  way,  and  sinners  were 
warned  and  called  to  repentance  and  amendment  of  life. 

The  26th.  I  this  evening  held  a  good  open  meeting  at  Harling, 
wherein  the  benetit  of  waiting  upon  God  in  public,  in  families,  and 
in  private,  was  brought  to  view  and  sustained  to  good  satisfaction, 
according  to  the  Holy  Scriptures. 

The  2Tth.  I  this  evening  held  a  small  but  jiretty  good  meeting 
at  Tivet's  Hall.  Those  in  attendance  appeared  to  be  religious  peo- 
ple, and  manifested  a  desire  to  receive  the  instruction  of  Christian- 
ity in  the  love  of  it. 

The  28th.  I  was  this  day  under  feelings  of  much  humility  and 
interest.  About  this  season  of  the  year  is  the  time  of  wheat  har- 
vest in  this  country,  and,  in  passing  on  from  place  to  place,  I  ob- 
serve many  poor  women  and  children  in  the  wheat  stubble-fields, 
gleaning  for  the  purj^ose  of  procuring  some  bread  for  their  suste- 
nance. I  this  day  became  concerned  to  visit  a  company  of  these 
gleaners.  I  therefore,  having  suitable  company,  went  into  a  field 
where  they  were  gleaning,  and  proposed  a  meeting  for  them.  They 
were  glad  of  the  opportunity,  and  soon  assembled  around  me  in  a 
suitable  spot  of  the  field,  there  being  upward  of  fifty  women  in  the 
company,  with  a  number  of  children,  and  while  standing  together, 
way  opened  in  my  mind  for  me  to  deliver  to  them  a  suitable  word 
of  exhortation,  to  good  satisfaction. 

In  the  evening  I  held  a  large  and  very  interesting  meeting  at 
Diss,  where  the  power  of  God  reigned  over  all,  to  the  glory  and 
honor  of  His  worthy  name.  All  the  i:)raise  be  given  to  Him  for- 
ever. 

The  29th.  I  this  evening  held  a  very  good  and  open  meeting  at 
Tasburgh.  The  ])eople  in  attendance  were  serious,  and  received,  I 
hope,  the  truth  delivered  through  me,  to  their  humility,  benefit 
and  edification. 

The  30th.  I  this  morning  received  the  following  very  kind  and 
affectionate  letter  from  my  dear  wife : 

Waynesville,  6th  month,  29th,  1850. 
My  Dear  and  Affectionate  Husband: 

I  this  morning  received  thy  very  kind  and  interesting  letter, 
which  gave  me  great  satisfaction  to  hear  from  0)ie  who  shares  so 
largely  of  my  love,  and  who  occupies  so  great  an  interest  in  my 


240  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  isao 

prayers,  that  tliou  mayest  be  preserved  from  the  snares  of  this 
world,  both  temporally  and  spiritually.  And,  my  dear,  feel  assured 
that  thou  art  remembered  at  the  throne  of  grace  by  thy  affection- 
ate wife.  But,  my  dear,  another  portion  of  thy  letter  cast  a  differ- 
ent shade  over  my  feeling,  knowing  that  thou  hast  been  called  to 
])ass  through  deep  waters  and  sore  afflictions,  and  thy  bodily  afflic- 
tions have  been  so  great;  and  notu,  in  the  dispensation  of  a  kind 
providence,  a  new  door  of  labor  has  been  opened  to  thee,  I  feel  to 
sympathize  with  thee,  and  to  humble  myself  before  the  Lord,  and 
to  ask  with  more  earnestness  than  usual  that  thou  mayest  be  sus- 
tained under  all  the  trials  that  thou  mayest  be  called  to  pass 
through.  The  Lord  has  ])romised  to  sustain  all  that  call  upon  Him 
in  the  obedience  of  faith,  and  we  have  none  other  to  go  to,  as  touch- 
ing this  matter.  I  have  but  little  idea  of  the  country  or  the  peo- 
ple that  thou  art  going  to  visit,  but  I  feel  assured  that  it  is  not  the 
work  of  man  that  has  induced  thee  to  this  work;  and,  if  of  the 
Lord,  it  makes  no  difference  what  we  are  called  upon  to  jiass 
through,  for  if  the  Lord  is  on  our  side  He  will  bring  us  through 
more  than  conquerors.  My  desire  is  that  the  God  of  mercy  and  of 
love  may  go  with  thee,  and  strengthen  thee  on  every  hand,  adequate 
for  His  work,  that  He  may  from  time  to  time  grant  thee  wisdom 
and  utterance  to  the  glory  of  His  worthy  name,  and  to  the  edifica- 
tion of  those  to  whom  He  may  mercifully  call  thee  to  visit.  May 
He  bless  thee  forevermore! 

I  now  close  this  letter  with  feelings  of  deep  and  tender  sympathy 
toward  thee,  and  remain,  most  affectionately, 

Thy  sympathizing  wife, 

Eachel  Arnett. 

I  this  evening  held  a  small  but  pretty  good  meeting  at  North 
Walsham.  Those  in  attendance  were  religious  people,  and  mani- 
fested a  disposition  to  receive  the  truth,  delivered  in  the  love  of  it. 

The  31st.  I  this  day  went  to  the  city  of  Norwich,  and  my  dear 
friend,  William  Forster,  being  at  home,  I  therefore  lodged  Avith 
him  during  my  stay  in  this  city;  and  he,  together  with  his  dear 
wife,  Anna  Forster,  manifested  towards  me  the  tenderest  Christian 
sympathy  in  the  unity  of  the  spirit  and  in  the  bond  of  peace, 
whereby  I  felt  a  little  renewedly  encouraged,  and  strengthened  up 
in  the  sjiirit  of  my  mind.  They  are  both  of  them  very  valuable 
ministers  of  the  gospel,  and  bright  ornaments  in  our  religious  soci- 
ety; and  he  has  traveled  very  extensively  in  the  work  of  the  i)ul)lic 
ministry,  both  in  Europe  and  also  in  America,  and  has  always  given 
good  satisfaction  in  his  travels,  not  only  among  all  upriglit  Friends, 
but  also  among  Cliristians  of  other  religious  denominations  where 
he  has  traveled. 

Uth  month,  Urst.  Being  the  first  day  of  the  week,  I  this  morn- 
ing attended  the  nu'eting  of  Friends  in  the  city  of  Norwich,  and 
in  the  evening  I  held  a  large  public  meeting  there.     Both  these 


1850  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT,  241 

meetings  were  seasons  of  much  divine  favor,  wherein  I  believe  that 
many  precious  and  baptized  souls  were  mei'cifully  merged  into 'the 
spirit  of  the  glorious  gospel,  to  deep  humility  and  to  much  edifi- 
cation of  spirit;  and  sinners  were  also  tenderly  warned  to  flee  betimes 
from  the  wrath  to  come. 

The  3nd.  I  this  evening  held  a  precious  and  good  meeting  at 
Lammas,  wherein  my  mouth  was  opened  in  the  love  of  the  glorious 
gospel,  to  good  satisfaction.     Praised  forever  be  the  Lord  ! 

The  3rd.  I  this  morning  left  the  city  of  Norwich,  and  traveled 
to  the  town  of  Wells,  where  in  the  evening  I  held  a  large  and  good 
open  meeting  in  the  Independent  chapel.  The  jieople  in  attend- 
ance appeared  to  be  willing  to  receive  the  testimony  of  truth  which 
was  delivered  among  them,  with  humility  and  to  edification. 

The  4th.  I  this  day,  after  visiting  some  families,  held  a  small 
but  pretty  good  meeting  at  Downham,  Those  in  attendance 
appeared  to  be  serious,  seeking  people,  and  they  were  in  this  meet- 
ing encouraged  in  the  way  of  salvation. 

The  5th.  I  this  evening  held  a  precious  and  glorious  meeting  at 
Gedney,  where  the  everlasting  truth  reigned  over  all,  to  the  deep 
humility  and  tenderness  of  many  precious  and  well-concerned  minds. 
May  all  the  praise  be  forever  given  to  God,  for  he  is  worthy  eter- 
nally ! 

The  6th.  A  day  of  much  exercise  with  me,  wherein  my  spirit 
was  bowed  before  God  in  secret  prayer  and  supplication  for  his  pre- 
servation on  every  hand.  I  this  evening  held  a  large  and  heavenly 
meeting  at  Spalding,  where  I  was  largely  opened  in  the  love  of 
Christ,  to  the  edification  of  many  jn-ecious  and  tender  minds. 

The  7th.  I  was  this  day  inspired  with  delightful  and  prayerful 
meditation  on  the  wondrous  works  of  God,  wherein,  under  a  re- 
newed sense  of  his  glory,  majesty  and  power,  every  thought  in  me 
was  brought  into  captivity  to  the  obedience  of  Christ.  This  was  a 
season  of  much  refreshment. and  consolation  to  my  poor  mind.  I 
this  day  went  to  the  home  of  my  dear  and  kind  friend,  George 
Stacey,  of  Tottenham,  near  London,  and  the  next  day  being  First- 
day,  I  attended  the  morning  and  evening  meeting  of  Friends  there^ 
as  it  came  in  course,  and  was  much  comforted  in  being  with  friends- 
on  this  occasion,  who  were  very  kind  to  me. 

The  9th.  I  this  day  again  attended  the  Second-day  morning  meet- 
ing of  ministers  and  elders  in  London,  wherein  prayer,  witii  feelings 
of  deep  humility,  was  offered  up  to  the  Lord  Almighty  for  his  wis- 
dom and  for  his  merciful  protecting  power  on  every  hand.  Friends 
of  this  meeting  manifested  deep  and  tender  sympathy  for  and  with 
me  in  the  prosecution  of  the  Aveighty  concern  now  resting  upon' 
me,  and  they  encouraged  me  to  be  faithful  to  every  opening  of  Di- 
vine wisdom. 

The  10th  A  day  of  very  deep  exercise  with  me.  All  within  me 
was  humbled  as  in  the  dust.     I  was  brought  very  low  in  spirit.      Y 


242  JOUKNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  ^^ 

cried  secretly  to  my  blessed  Saviour  for  support,  for  I  felt  th^t  I 
had  none  other  to  depend  upon;  and  as  it  pleased  him,  he  merci- 
fully remembered  me,  and  a  little  renewedly  strengthened  me.  I 
s^jent  the  forenoon  of  this  day  in  writing  and  in  meditation,  and  in 
the  afternoon  I  attended  a  meeting  for  worship  at  Tottenham,  held 
on  a  funeral  occasion,  wherein  I  sat  in  suffering  silence.  Some  other 
Friends,  however,  engaged  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  had  good 
service,  so  that  it  was  a  good  meeting  to  many. 

Tiie  11th.  I  this  morning,  under  feelings  of  very  deep  humility, 
and  with  prayer  and  supplication  to  God  for  his  wisdom  and  pro- 
tection on  every  hand,  in  company  with  my  dear  friend,  John  S. 
Eobson,  again  set  out  in  the  prosecution  of  my  religious  visit  on 
the  continent  of  Europe.  We  left  London  about  11  o'clock  this 
morning,  and  went  on  the  railroad  for  Dover,  where  we  landed  in 
the  afternoon,  in  time  to  go  on  board  a  French  steamer  for  Calais, 
and  passed  over  to  that  port  in  about  two  hours,  with  a  pleasant 
sail,  where  we  continued  through  the  night  with  comfort. 

The  12th.  We  this  morning  left  Calais  and  went  on  railroad 
conveyance  for  Minden,  in  Germany,  where  we  arrived,  with  some 
occasional  detention  on  the  way,  on  the  14th^with  thankful  hearts. 

The  loth,  being  First-day,  we  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends 
at  Minden  in  the  morning,  and  toward  the  close  of  the  meeting  all 
my  certificates  were  read  in  the  German  language,  and  my  dear 
friend,  David  Peitsmeyer,  was  selected  by  friends  to  be  my  inter- 
preter while  in  this  part,  after  which  I  spoke  a  little  to  those  pres- 
ent, being  about  fifty  persons,  and  informed  the  Friends  of  this 
meeting  of  my  prospect  of  a  family  visit  among  them,  which  was 
united  with  by  them.  In  the  afternoon  we  again  attended  their 
meeting,  there  being  about  a  hundred  persons  i)resent,  among 
whom  I  found  much  good  service  in  the  gospel,  to  our  mutual  sat- 
isfaction. ■ 

We  spent  the  two  following  days  in  visiting  the  families  of  this 
little  meeting.  We  visited  about  twelve  families,  to  good  satisfac- 
tion, in  which  Friends  were  much  encouraged  in  the  way  of  salva- 
tion. 

The  18th.  We  again  this  morning!  attended  Friends'  meeting, 
as  it  came  in  course,  and  were  much  comforted  together  with  them; 
and  in  the  afternoon  we  held  a  public  meeting  for  the  citizens  of 
Minden,  in  a  large  room  of  a  hotel  fitted  up  for  the  purpose,  which 
was  well  attended  by  Friends,  Jews,  Lutlierans  and  lloman  Cath- 
olics, and  the  power  of  the  Lord  was  over  and  above  all  in  this 
meeting.  The  people  were  very  still  and  attentive,  and  received 
the  word  of  the  ministry  delivered  among  them,  I  trust,  to  some 
lasting  benefit. 

The  19th.  We  this  morning,  with  feelings  of  deep  humility  and 
gratitude  to  God,  held  a  meeting  at  Herford,  in  a  large  room  of  a 
hotel,  which  was  pretty  well  attended  by  serious-minded  people. 


1850  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  243 

jinioug  svhom  tlie  power  of  truth  broke  forth  to  the  touching  of 
some  tender  hearts,  who  poured  forth  their  tears  under  a  sense  of 
the  want  of  a  Saviour's  mercy  and  forgiveness  of  their  sins. 

After  meeting,  a  young  man — a  Lutheran  and  a  schoohnastcr — 
€ame  to  our  lodging  with  much  tenderness  and  tears,  and  desired 
an  interview  with  us,  which  being  granted,  be  informed  us  that  his 
heart  was  ''touched  and  broken  tbrough  the  gospel,  in  being  at 
this  meeting  with  us,  wherein  he  saw  that  he  was  a  sinner;  and  he 
earnestly  desired  me  to  pray  for  him.*' 

I  opened  to  him  the  nature  of  true  prayer,  that  the  blessed  Sav- 
ior, through  the  Spirit,  was  the  author  thereof,  to  whom  I  directed 
him  as  the  healer  of  breaches,  the  mediator  of  the  New  Covenant, 
-and  the  great  minister  of  the  true  sanctuary,  and  of  the  true  tab- 
ernacle which  the  Lord  pitched,  and  not  man.  We  parted  most 
friendly. 

The  20th.  We  this  day,  under  some  discouragement  in  my  mind, 
held  a  meeting  at  Motho,  in  a  large  room  of  a  hotel.  About  a 
hundred  people  attended,  who  were  mostly  of  the  Lutheran  church, 
among  whom  was  one  of  their  priests.  The  power  of  the  Lord 
prevailed  in  this  meeting,  and  I  believe  that  some  present  received 
the  word  of  the  gospel  to  lasting  benefit.  The  people  after  meet- 
ing Avere  very  friendly  and  affectionate  toward  us,  and  expressed 
their  satisfaction  with  my  service  in  this  meeting. 

The  21st.  We  this  day  traveled  to  Pyrmont,  which  is  a  place  of 
much  interest  and  delight  in  respect  to  the  natural  scenery  exhib- 
ited there,  affording  a  iield  for  much  pious  meditation;  and  the 
next  day,  being  First-day,  we  in  the  morning  attended  the  little 
meeting  of  Friends  there;  where,  after  the  reading  of  all  my  cer- 
tificates, and  my  dear  friend,  August  Mundhunck,  being  selected 
to  be  my  interpreter,  I  spoke  a  little  by  way  of  encouragement  to 
the  dear  friends  who  constituted  this  meeting,  and  informed  them 
of  my  prospect  of  a  family  visit  among  them,  which  was  united 
wnth,  and  in  the  afternoon  meeting  I  found  good  service  among 
them,  to  satisfaction.  They  appeared  to  be  glad  to  see  us,  and  they 
gave  us  a  hearty  welcome  among  them. 

The  two  following  days  we  devoted  in  paying  a  religious  visit  to 
the  families  of  this  little  meeting,  where  wc  found  aljout  ten  fam- 
ilies, and  about  fifty  members,  among  whom  we  found  a  number  of 
sincere-hearted  Friends,  with  whom  we  were  comforted  in  the 
spring  of  life. 

The  25th.  I  arose  this  morning  with  much  pleasant  feeling  in 
mind,  spirit  and  body;  but  as  soon  as  I  had  dressed  myself,  I  had 
a  most  iminful  and  bitter  cup  to  drink.  The  deepest  trial  came 
upon  me  that  I  ever  experienced — the  heart-melting  and  the  tears- 
flowing  intelligence  of  the  death  of  my  dear  wife — according  to  the 
account  of  a  dear  friend  of  mine  from  my  own  neighborhood — a 
W'orthy  and  experienced  Christian  of  the  Methodist  Church,  as  con- 
tained' in  the  followino-  letter  : 


244  JOUKXAL    OF    THOMAS    AKNETT.  1850 

AVayxe.sville,  8tli  mo.  31,  1850. 
Thompson  and  Midgley — 

Dear  Friends :  As  Thomas  Arnett  has  his  letters  I'rom  America 
directed  to  your  care,  I  have  taken  the  liberty  of  addressing  you, 
and  through  you  to  his  friends.  This  morning,  at  9  o'clock,  his 
wife  ceased  to  live  amongst  us.  She  had  been  sick  about  ten  days 
only.  Her  i>riucipal  disease  was  inflammation  of  the  bowels,  or 
modified  cholera.  I  saw  her  daily,  except  one  day,  while  she  was 
sick.  I  did  not  think  her  dangerous  until  the  last  two  days  of  her 
illness.  Everything  was  done  for  her  that  could  be  done  by  earthly 
friends,  and  while  we  attended  to  her  temporal  wants,  I  trust  that 
our  Heavenly  Father  attended  to  her  spiritual  wants.  She  was  sub- 
missive, and  complained  but  little.  I  sat  by  her  for  some  time  be- 
fore she  died;  and  while  the  change  was  going  on,  I  could  not  com- 
pare it  to  anything  better  than  a  candle  burning  out  in  the  socket. 
She  passed  off  without  a  struggle:  but  I  hope  that  our  loss  was  her 
eternal  gain.  We  miss  much  her  cheerful  company  and  pleasant 
society,  and  feel  that  a  blank  is  made  amongst  us  that  can  never  be 
filled.     The  ways  of  Divine  Providence  are  m3'sterious. 

I  do  feel  truly  for  my  dear  friend.  Thomas  Arnett.  He  has  met 
with  a  great  loss.  It  may  not  be  long  until  he  will  meet  his  dear 
wife  in  the  great  multitude  which  no  man  can  number.  I  have  no 
doubt  but  sister  Eachel  Arnett  died  happy,  as  she  lived  a  very  ex- 
emplary life.  Her  funeral  was  solemnly  and  impressively  attended 
to  throughout  in  the  order  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 

I  am,  in  Christian  love,  your  friend,  John  M.  Hadden. 

Some  little  time  prior  to  receiving  this  intelligence,  I  dreamed 
one  night  that  my  dear  wife,  with  a  most  pleasing,  smiling  and 
transparent  countenance,  and  "clothed  with  a  white  robe,"  ap- 
peared to  me,  and  said:  ''  I  am  in  heaven."  I  thought  I  was  moved 
upon  with  awful  solemnity,  and  said  to  her:  'Why  hast  thou  thus 
appeared  to  me?"  and  she  said:  ""The  Good  Master  has  thus  sent 
me  to  give  thee  this  intelligence  at  this  time,  to  prepare  thy 
mind  to  receive  it  with  Christian  fortitude  when  it  shall  come 
to  thee  outwardly;  for  tliou  wilt  never  again  see  me  in  this  world. 
Therefore,  give  me  up  to  Him  wlio  doeth  all  things  right."  I  thought 
I  then  approached  her,  and  umler  a  flood  of  tears  on  my  part,  took 
a  most  affectionate  leave  of  her,  during  all  which  her  countenance 
remained  unchanged.  I  then  awoke,  under  feelings  of  very  deep 
humility. 

In  receiving  this  intelligence,  although  this  dream  sprang  right 
up  before  me,  yet  for  awhile  I  was  afraid  that  it  would  be  more  than 
I  could  bear.  I  wept  bitterly,  and  mourned  deeply  in  my  spirit. 
My  dear  companion  did  all  that  he  could  to  bear  me  up.  I  at  length 
found  myself  fainting  away,  at  which  time  I  went  and  composed 
myself  on  the  bed  in  my  lodging-room  at  a  public  hotel,  where  my 
mind  became  a  little  centered  in  God.  the  eternal  substance.    I  then 


18.W  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKNETT.  245 

•arose  antl  cried  in  my  spirit  to  my  God  to  support  and  to  protect 
me  in  this  my  deepest  trial.  I  cried,  in  my  lamentation,  in  this 
language:  ''iSTaked  came  I  out  of  my  mother's  womb,  and  naked 
shall  I  return  thither.  The  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath  taken 
away.  Blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord!"  "The  thing  which  I 
greatly  feared  is  come  upon  me.  and  that  which  I  was  afraid  of  is 
come  iinto  me.'"  "0  that  I  had  wings  like  a  dove,  for  then  would 
I  fly  away  and  be  at  rest."  "  I  am  the  man  that  hath  sore  affliction" 
by  the  turning  and  the  overturning  of  the  holy  hand  upon  me. 
Let  me  live  a  solitary  life,  and  let  me  sit  alone  and  keep  silence  as 
it  may  be  borne  upon  me;  and  let  me  again  and  again  go  forth  in 
my  sorrow,  and  put  my  mouth  in  tlie  dust  as  in  heavenly  places,  if 
so  be  there  may  be  hope  for  me,  a  poor  worm  of  the  dust,  because 
my  dearest  love  upon  earth  is  gone — she  who  was  my  sweet  comfort 
when  at  home.  We  took  sweet  counsel  together,  and  walked  unto 
the  house  of  God  in  company.  Yes,  she  who  was  the  bearer  up  of 
my  arms  in  the  day  of  trouble  is  gone,  and  I  am  left  alone  to  weep 
iifter  her.  Yes,  all  my  family  is  gone  into  heaven,  and  left  me  be- 
hind! 0  my  God,  remember  me  in  this  deep  affliction.  "0  that 
my  head  were  waters,  and  mine  eyes  a  fountain  of  tears,  that  I 
might  weep  day  and  night"  for  the  loss  of  my  beloved,  who  was  one 
of  the  best  of  women,  who  faithfully  discharged  all  her  domestic, 
relative  and  religious  duties  with  all  becoming  humility  of  spirit, 
calmness  and  dispassion." 

Under  a  sense  of  this  very  deep  loss  to  me,  "I  cried  unto  the 
Lord  with  my  voice;  with  my  voice  unto  the  Lord  did  I  make  my 
supplication.  I  poured  out  my  complaint  before  him,  I  showed 
before  him  my  trouble."  "I  looked  on  my  right  hand  and  beheld, 
but  there  was  no  man  that  "could  comfort  me.  "  Eefuge  failed 
me;"  no  man  could  bear  up  my  afflicted  and  borne-down  soul.  "I 
cried  unto  thee,  0  Lord;  I  said  Thou  art  my  refuge  and  my  portion 
in  the  land  of  the  living:  attend  unto  my  cry,  for  I  am  brought 
very  low."  Extend  thy  mercy,  thy  compassion  and  thy  protection 
to  me,  0  my  God,  in  this  my  deepest  trial,  and  enable  me  to  endure 
hardness  for  the  sake  of  thy  good  cause.  0  let  me  suffer  for  and 
with  thee,  holy  Saviour,  while  I  am  in  time,  that  1  may  forever 
reign  with  thee  in  the  glorious  world  to  come. 

In  my  lamentation  under  this  privation,  this  ancient  promise  was 
renewed  in  my  mind  in  the  love  of  my  blessed  Saviour  through  the 
Holy  Spirit :  "'As  thy  days,  so  shall  thy  strength  be."  "  My  grace 
is  sufficient  for  thee,  for  my  strength  is  made  perfect  in  weakness.'' 
Let  me,  therefore,  both  hope  and  quietly  wait  for  the  salvation  of 
the  Lord,  for  my  beloved  one  is  taken  away  from  the  evil  to  come. 
Yes,  the  wife  of  my  bosom  is  gone  into  heaven — into  "the  house 
not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens."  0  let  me  so  go 
forth,  while  in  time,  as  finally  to  be  accounted  worthy  to  meet  her 
there,  where  parting  will  be  no  more.     I  know  that  my  loss  is  her 


246  JOUKNAL    OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  1850 

gain;  therefore  let  me  bless  God  and  look  forward  in  the  obedience 
of  faith,  and  go  forth  in  his  name  in  the  work  of  tlie  ministry, 
whereunto  I  am  called.  Yes,  let  me  go  forth  according  to  his  holy 
will,  for  I  know  that  while  I  am  mourning  after  my  beloved  one, 
she  is  enjoying  the  society  of  the  holy  angels  and  the  spirits  of  the 
just  in  the  heavens,  in  the  glory  of  that  great  city,  the  street  of 
which  is  pure  gold,  ''as  it  were  transparent  glass,'' wherein  there 
is  no  temple,  "for  the  Lord  God  Almighty  and  the  Lamb  are  the 
temple  of  it."  And  seeing  that  my  dear  one  is  there,  let  me  there- 
fore, under  God's  grace,  quietly  give  her  up  to  him  who  for  a  sea- 
son gave  her  to  me.     Blessed  be  his  worthy  name  forever! 

But,  0,  my  sorrow  is  very  deep  on  this  occasion,  and  this  my 
lamentation  is  known  in  heaven;  for  "'Behold  my  witness  is  in 
heaven,  and  my  record  is  on  high."  "0  that  my  words  were  now 
AvrittenI  0,  that  they  were  printed  in  a  book  I  That  they  were 
graven  with  an  iron  pen  and  lead  in  the  rock  forever."  0,  let 
me  more  and  more  set  my  face  toward  heaven,  that  I  may  be  pre- 
pared to  be  gathered  there  in  leaving  this  world!  Yes,  "Let  me 
die  the  death  of  the  righteous,  and  let  my  last  end  be  like  unto 
his,"  for  "when  a  few  years  are  come,  then  I  shall  go  the  way 
whence  I  shall  not  return."  "Turn  thee  unto  me,"  0  my  God, 
"and  have  mercy  upon  me,  for  I  am  desolate  and  afflicted  ;  the 
troubles  of  my  heart  are  enlarged.  0,  bring  thou  me  out  of  my 
distresses  ;  look  upon  mine  affliction  and  my  pain,"  and  sanctify,  I 
beseech  thee,  this  my  deepest  of  all  trials,  to  the  glory  of  thy  great 
and  worthy  name,  and  to  my  furtherance  in  the  way  of  sanctifica- 
tion  and  purity  in  soul,  spirit  and  body!  And  "forbid  that  I  should 
glory  save  in  the  cj'oss  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  whom  the  world 
is  crucified  unto  me,  and  I  unto  the  world,"  for  it  api)ears  to  me 
that  all  this  world,  with  all  its  pleasures,  riches,  and  glory,  is  but 
as  "vanity  of  vanities."  Yes,  "All  is  vanity."  I  beseech  thee,  0 
holy  and  adorable  Saviour,  to  enable  me  to  endure  hardness,  under 
this  mournful  trial,  as  a  good  soldier  of  thine,  and  keep  me  from 
evil  on  every  hand,  and  lead  me  in  the  way  everhistmg,  and  let  all 
things  Avork  together  for  my  good  ;  and  finally,  saith  my  spirit,  in 
regard  to  the  wondrous  works  of  God,  "0,  the  depth  of  the  riches, 
both  of  the  wisdom  and  knowledge  of  God!"  How  unsearchable 
are  His  judgments,  and  His  ways  past  finding  out!  Praised  be  His 
worthy  name  forever! 

I  this  afternoon  at  4  o'clock  had  a  public  meeting  appointed  for 
the  citizens  of  Pyrmont — notices  of  this  meeting  having  gone  out 
prior  to  my  receiving  the  account  of  the  deatli  of  my  dear  wife — and 
when  tlie  appointed  hour  came,  although  I  was  deeply  depressed 
with  sorrow,  and  i^ossessed  of  a  mournful  spirit,  yet  believing  that 
this  meeting  was  appointed  in  the  ordering  of  truth,  I  therefore 
felt  bound  to  go  forth  and  attend  this  meeting.  But  0,  tlie  bur- 
den that  was  upon  me  in  approaching  this  company!    Tiie  meeting 


1850  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  24T 

was  well  attended  by  the  most  respectable  class  of  the  citizens, 
among  whom,  after  sitting  a  while  in  silence,  I  arose,  I  believe  in 
the  strength  and  power  of  the  everlasting  God,  and  was  favored  in 
His  name  to  proclaim  the  glad  tidings  of  the  glorious  gospel,  to  the 
deep  humility  of  the  whole  meeting;  and  toward  the  close  of  my 
discourse  I  informed  the  people  of  the  death  of  my  dear  wife,  the 
intelligence  whereof  having  been  received  by  me  this  morning,  which 
raised  in  then-  minds  the  deepest  sympathy  for  me,  so  that  many 
tears  were  shed  on  this  affecting  occasion. 

The  26th,  We  this  morning  left  Pyrmont  and  traveled  during' 
this  and  the  following  day  to  Elberfeld,  a  fine  and  interesting  town, 
where,  on  the  28th,  Ave  rested,  my  health  being  poor  and  delicate. 
And  the  next  day  being  First-day,  we  held  in  this  town,  in  the  eve- 
ning, in  the  Gymnasium  College  school-room,  a  most  interesting 
meeting.  About  a  thousand  people  were  in  attendance,  and  all  of 
them  appeared  to  be  broken  down  in  tenderness  and  tears;  and  to- 
ward the  close  of  my  discourse  in  this  meeting,  I  also  informed  of 
the  death  of  my  beloved  wife,  which  intelligence  seemed  to  touch 
every  heart  in  attendance;  and  when  the  meeting  closed,  the  peo- 
ple generally  came  and  spoke  to  me  through  my  interpreter,  John 
Easche,  a  worthy  young  Friend,  and  expressed  their  deej)  sympathy 
for  and  with  me,  in  respect  to  the  loss  of  my  dear  wife;  so  that 
we  parted  under  the  tenderest  feeling  and  j^rayer  for  and  with  one 
another,  hoping  fi/ially  to  meet  each  other  in  heaven,  where  part- 
ing will  be  no  more.  This  was  a  glorious  meeting,  and  o)ie  that 
will  long  be  remembered  by  many  tor  good.  Praised  forever  be  the 
name  of  the  everlasting  God  I 

The  30th,  We  this  morning  left  Elberfeld,  and  set  out  in  the 
jDrosecution  of  my  visit  to  those  professing  with  Friends  in  the 
south  of  France,  We  went  on  railroad  conveyance  to  Cologne, 
where  we  went  on  board  of  a  steamer,  on  the  river  Rhine,  and  had 
a  pleasant  sail  to  Coblentz,  where  we  landed  in  tiie  evening  and 
lodged  there  all  night,  I  was  this  day  much  depi'essed  in  spirit, 
in  consideration  of  my  solitary  situation  in  life,  No  language  can 
describe  the  discouragement  that  attended  my  borne-down  spirit 
this  day. 

Tenth  month  1st,  We  this  morning  again  Avent  on  board  of  our 
steamer  on  the  Rhine,  for  Strasbourg,  Avhere  we  landed,  after  pass- 
through  some  interesting  country,  on  the  next  day  in  the  eA'ening, 
and  lodged  there  all  night.  And  on  the  3rd  Ave  Avent  on  railroad 
couA^eyance  to  Mulhouse,  and  lodged  there  all  night,  and  the  next 
day  and  night  aa'c  traA^eled  by  ddigence  to  Besancon,  a  dark,  Ro- 
man Catholic  town,  Avhere  we  landed  early  in  the  morning  of  the 
5th.  My  health  Avas  very  poor  this  day,  being  afflicted  in  my  stom- 
ach and  bowels,  so  that  I  Avas  hardly  able  to  travel,  but  under  solid 
consideration  I  concluded  to  go  forward.  We  therefore  left  Besan- 
con after  staying  there  a  few  hours,  and  traveled  this  day  by  chaise 


248  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  1850 

to  Dole,  and  in  landing  there  I  was  very  unwell  and  much  cast 
down  in  spirit.  I,  however,  through  a  little  medical  aid,  soon  ex- 
perienced much  relief  in  my  stomach  and  boAvels,  for  which  I  was 
very  thankful  to  that  great  and  worthy  Being,  who  not  only  gov- 
erns the  universe,  but  also  sustains  all  his  little,  dependent  chil- 
dren; very  great  has  been  his  mercy  and  protection  toward  me,  a 
poor  worm  of  the  dust.     Praised  be  his  name  forevermore! 

The  6th  being  First-day,  we  therefore  continued  at  Dole  this  day, 
and  found  it  to  be  a  dark  place,  the  Roman  Catholics  having  the 
sway  there.  We  at  a  suitable  time  held  our  little  meeting  to  our- 
selves and  were  much  comforted  in  spirit. 

The  7th.  We  this  morning  left  Dole  and  traveled  by  chaise  and 
railroad  conveyance -to  Chalons,  where  we  lodged  all  night.  And 
on  the  8th,  in  the  morning,  we  went  on  board  of  a  steamer  on  the 
river  Soane,  for  Lyons,  where  we  landed  in  the  evening  and  lodged 
there  all  night  at  a  good  hotel,  with  thankful  and  peaceful  minds. 

The  9th.  We  this  morning  left  Lyons  and  went  on  board  of  a 
steamer  on  the  river  Ehone,  and  had  a  very  interesting  sail  to  Val- 
ence, through  a  country  exhibiting  much  delightful  scenery.  And 
on  the  next  day  we  proceeded  forward  by  steam  navigation,  and 
railroad  and  coach  conveyances,  and  were  favored  at  length  to  land 
a,t  Nismes,  in  the  evening,  with  thankful  hearts,  where  the  few 
Friends  there  were  very  glad  to  see  us,  so  that  they  gave  us  a  very 
hearty  welcome;  and  the  11th  we  spent  there  in  writing,  reading, 
and  in  meditation.     Praised  be  the  name  of  God  forever  I 

The  12th.  We  this  day  went  to  Congenies,  and  the  next  day, 
being  First-day,  we  in  the  morning  attended  Friends'  meeting 
there,  where  we  met  upwards  of  fifty  people,  among  whom  I  found 
much  good  service  ;  and  toward  the  close  of  the  meeting,  all  my 
certificates  were  read  in  the  French  language,  and  my  dear  friend, 
Jules  Paradon,  was  selected  to  be  my  interpreter,  and  I  informed 
Friends  of  my  prospects  of  a  family  visit  among  them,  in  the  love 
of  the  gospel,  which  was  united  with.  And  in  the  afternoon  we 
held  a  pul)lic  meeting  there;  about  two  hundred  jDcople  attended, 
among  whom  the  testimony  of  the  gospel  went  forth,  to  the  edifi- 
cation of  many  minds. 

The  two  following  days  we  visited  about  twenty  families  of 
Friends  at  Congenies,  among  whom  way  opened  in  the  truth  to 
break  the  bread  of  life  from  house  to  house,  to  mutual  help.  And 
in  the  evening  of  the  latter  day,  we  held  a  meeting  at  the  town  of 
Calvisson,  in  the  Protestant  Temple,  so  called,  where  about  five 
hundred  people  attended,  among  whom  the  solemn  warning  of  the 
gospel  went  forth,  to  the  humility  and  edification  of  many  minds. 

While  we  were  at  Congenies,  we  were  very  kindly  entertained  at 
the  house  of  our  dear  friend  Lydia  Majolier,  a  worthy  Friend,  one 
who  loves  the  truth,  because  she  has  exiierieneed  conversion  to 
God,  through  the  blessed  oi)eration  of  the  spirit  of  the  holy  Saviour. 


1850  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  249 

The  IGth.  We  this  day  held  a  small  but  very  good  meeting  at 
Fontanes,  in  the  dwelling-house  of  a  friend.  Those  who  attended 
were  all  of  them  religious  people,  among  whom  the  stream  of  gos- 
pel love  went  forth  to  edification  and  encouragement;  and  after 
ipeeting  they  all  gave  me  the  right  hand  of  fellowship,  and  desired 
my  encouragement  in  the  prosecution  of  the  work  of  the  ministry, 
consistent  with  the  will  of  him  who  has  thus  sent  me  forth. 

The  ITth.  We  this  day  held  a  deeply  interesting  meeting  at 
Saint  Hippolyte,  in  the  Protestant  Temple.  About  two  hundred 
people  attended  this  meeting,  who  were  gpierally  religious  profes- 
sors, among  whom  the  water  of  eternal  life  flowed  freely,  to  their 
humility  and  edification,  so  that  I  thought  that  this  meeting  was 
in  degree  to  the  glory  of  God;  and  while  we  were  there  we  visited 
several  families  of  those  professing  with  Friends,  to  very  good  sat- 
isfaction.    Praised  be  the  Lord  forevermore! 

The  18th.  We  this  day  held  a  small  but  good  meeting  at  Cres- 
pian,  in  the  dwelling-house  of  a  family  professing  with  Friends. 
Those  who  attended  Avere  religious  people,  and  appeared  to  be  glad 
of  this  religious  opportunity;  and  in  the  evening  we  returned  to 
Nismes,  where  on  the  next  day  we  visited  about  ten  families  of 
those  professing  with  Friends,  which  visit,  I  thought,  was  mutually 
helpful,  being  a  little  refreshed  in  spirit  renewedly  from  house  to 
house,  in  the  opening  of  divine  wisdom.  Praised  be  the  Lord  for- 
evermore ! 

The  20th.  Being  First-day,  we  this  morning  attended  the  meet- 
ing of  Friends  at  Nismes,  and  some  notice  being  given  of  our 
being  here,  upwards  of  fifty  people  came  in  and  attended  this  meet- 
ing with  us,  who  were  (jeneraUy  religious  people,  and  we  were  favored 
with  a  blessed  meeting.  The  word  of  life  and  salvation  went  forth 
freely,  to  our  strength  and  humility;  and  at  the  afternoon  meeting 
upward  of  fifty  women  attended,  and  a  very  few  men,  among  whom 
the  word  of  the  gospel  went  forth,  to  the  waking  of  their  hearts, 
and  after  meeting  they  manifested  the  tenderest  sympathy  for  and 
with  me. 

The  21st.  We  this  evening  held  a  deeply  interesting  meeting  at 
Xismes,  in  the  Methodist  chapel.  About  three  hundred  people  at- 
tended this  meeting,  who  were  generally  religious  people,  and  who, 
being  in  a  situation  of  mind  to  receive  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it, 
therefore  the  water  of  eternal  life  was  poured  forth  among  us,  as  the 
rain  descends  upon  the  thirsty  ground.  Every  soul  in  attendance 
was  reached,  and  many  tears  were  shed;  and  toward  the  close  of 
my  discourse  I  informed  them  of  the  death  of  my  dear  wife,  which 
called  forth  very  deep  sympathy  for  and  with  me. 

The  22nd.  We  this  morning  went  to  Saint  Gilles,  and  after  hold- 
ing a  good  and  comfortable  meeting  for  and  with  the  few  Friends 
there,  in  their  usual  meeting-room,  we  held  a  public  meeting  there, 
in  the  Protestant  Temple.     About  a  hundred  people  attended,  who 


350  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  l8SO 

were  generally  serious-minded  people,  among  whom,  through  divine 
wisdom,  we  were  in  degree  united  in  the  unity  of  the  spirit,  in  the 
bond  of  peace.  Although  this  is  a  dark,  Roman  Catholic  place,  yet 
in  some  degree  light  is  a  little  springing  uji  in  the  minds  of  some 
of  the  people. 

The  23rd.  I  arose  this  morning  with  a  cheerful  and  peaceful 
mind,  and  gratified  myself  awhile  in  viewing  some  of  the  antiquities 
of  Nismes,  wherein  I  was  much  humbled  in  seeing  such  ancient  work 
of  the  hand  of  man,  which  has  so  long  since  mouldered  away  in  the 
dust  of  the  earth.  In  the  afternoon  we  held  a  good  and  precious 
meeting  at  Codognan,  in  the  Methodist  chapel.  About  fifty  people 
attended,  who  were  sober  minded  and  seeking  people,  among  whom 
the  testimony  of  the  gospel  went  forth  to  their  edification. 

The  24th.  We  this  morning  at  9  o'clock  held  a  good  and  farewell 
meeting  for  and  with  the  few  friends  at  Nismes.  About  twenty-five 
people,  including  Friends  and  others,  attended  this  meeting,  which 
Avas,  through  divine  goodness,  made  a  heart-melting  season;  after 
which  we  left  this  town  and  set  out  by  the  diligence,  so  called,  for  An- 
nonay,  where  we  landed  on  the  2Gth,  in  the  evening  ;  and  next  day 
being  First-day,  we  held  a  meeting  there  in  the  afternoon  in  the 
Protestant  Temple.  About  a  thousand  people  attended  this  meet- 
ing, and  many  of  them  were  Roman  Catholics,  among  whom  I  was 
much  opened  in  the  love  of  the  everlasting  gospel,  to  the  glory  of  the 
cause  of  truth  and  righteousness  in  the  earth.  Magnified  forever  be 
the  great  name  of  God! 

Here  I  parted  with  my  dear  friend,  Jules  Paradon,  my  interpreter, 
who,  while  he  was  with  me,  manifested  the  dee])est  sympathy  for  and 
with  me  under  my  present  affliction — the  loss  of  my  dear  wife. 
t  The  28th.  We  this  morning  left  Annonay,  and  set  forward  on 
our  journey;  and  on  this  and  the  three  following  days  we  traveled 
(meeting  with  some  occasional  little  detention  on  the  way)  by  steam 
navigation,  railroad  and  diligence  conveyances,  to  the  town  of  Ton- 
nerre,  and  in  landing  there  my  health  was  poor,  and  my  mind  was 
under  much  depression,  so  that  I  felt  much  borne  down  in  body  and 
in  mind.  I  secretly  supplicated  the  everlasting  God  to  have  mercy 
upon  me,  and  He  mercifully  heard  me,  and  a  little  strengthened  me 
up.  Magnified  forever  be  His  great.  His  glorious  and  His  worthy 
name  I 

11th  month,  first.  We  this  day  went  on  railroad  conveyance  at 
Tonnerre  for  the  city  of  Paris,  where  we  landed  in  the  evening  at  6 
o'clock,  among  a  great  crowd  of  people;  and  in  passing  from  the  rail- 
road station  for  some  miles  to  a  hotel  for  lodging,  the  luminous  ap- 
])earance  of  this  great  city,  being  lighted  up  with  gas,  was  grand, 
and  the  noise  and  confusion  of  the  city  were  humbling,  so  that  my  in- 
troduction into  this  noted  and  fashionable  city  was  of  a  very  interest- 
ing nature  and  character. 

The  2nd.     We  spent  this  day  very  much  in  visiting  some  religious 


1850  '       JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  251 

and  interesting  people  of  this  city  among  the  Methodists  and  the 
Protestants,  so  called,  who  received  our  visits  in  that  true  love  which 
unites  the  children  of  God  together  everywhere. 

I  this  morning  received  the  following  testimony  concerning  my 
dear  wife,  from  a  dear  friend  to  his  wife,  and  through  her  to  me, 
who  is  now  in  America,  from  Great  Britain,  engaged  there  in  the 
work  of  the  ministry,  in  the  order  of  our  religious  society. 

''How  affecting  the  unexpected  decease  of  the  wife  of  our  dear 
friend,  Thomas  Arnett!  We  received  information  from  a  dear 
friend,  of  Indiana,  of  the  mournful  circumstance.  We  felt  sweetly 
united  together  when  permitted  to  meet.  She  was  very  kind  and 
remarkahly  open,  and  it  would  seem  that  both  she  and  her  husband 
had  given  each  other  up  for  the  service  to  which  the  latter  was 
called  in  the  gospel  of  Christ,  without  much  expectation  of  meet- 
ing again  on  earth.  The  loss  of  such  a  wife  will  be  a  heavy  bereave- 
ment to  him,  but  we  cannot  doubt  that  He  who  in  infinite  wisdom 
has  seen  meet  thus  to  afflict,  will  abundantly  open  those  springs  of 
consolation  to  his  own  soul  to  which  he  has  so  often  invited  others. 
We  cannot  doubt  that  the  mourner  will  be  comforted,  and  that  all 
will  tend  to  magnify  the  power  of  divine  grace  and  to  the  further- 
ance of  the  gospel.  My  Christian  love  and  tender  sympathy  is 
towards  him  under  this  peculiar  trial." 

Benjamin  Seeuohm. 

The  3rd.  Being  the  first  day  of  the  week,  and  a  sorrowful  and 
painful  day  to  me,  in  observing"the  vanity,  the  wickedness,  the  con- 
fusion and  the  looseness  manifested  in  this  place,  so  that  I  could  but 
deeply  weep  over  this  city  in  seeing  this  day  of  the  week  so  awfully 
and  so  openly  violated.  May  God  have  mercy  on  tlie  citizens  of 
this  high,  proud  and  lif ted-up  city!  No  way  opening  for  us  to  hold 
a  public  meeting  on  this  day  in  this  city,  we  therefore  retired  to  our 
room  at  our  lodging,  and  held  our  little  meeting  to  ourselves,  to  the 
comfort  of  our  own  minds. 

The  4th.  A  day  of  deep  exercise  with  me.  I  was  much  cast  down 
in  spirit.  I  sought  carncdhj  the  mercy  and  the  protection  of  my 
God,  which  was  extended  to  me  in  the  latter  part  of  this  day.  We,  in 
the  evening,  held  a  good  open  meeting  in  this  city,  in  the  Methodist 
chapel,  which  was  Avell  attended  by  religious  people;  for  although 
there  is  so  much  "sin"  in  this  city,  yet  there  are  tender,  lumible- 
minded  and  seeking  people  to  be  found  therein.  My  dear  friend, 
Charles  Cooke,  a  worthy  and  experienced  minister  of  the  gospel,  of 
the  Methodist  church,  Avas  my  interpreter  in  this  meeting.  The 
Lord  was  with  us  on  this  occasion,  and  enabled  us  to  worship  him 
in  spirit  and  in  truth,  so  that  we  parted  with  the  people  who  at- 
tended this  meeting  in  true  Christian  love. 

The  5th.  We  this  morning  left  the  city  of  Paris,  and  traveled 
this  day  on  railroad  conveyance  to  Boulogne,  Avhere  we  lodged  all 
night,  and  the  next  morning  we  passed  over  the  English  channel 


252  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  i850 

to  Folkstone,  on  a  steam  packet,  and  had  a  very  rough  passage,  in 
which  I  was  very  sea  sick;  and  after  passing  over  in  about  two 
hours,  we  went  on  railroad  conveyance  for  London,  and  from  there 
to  Tottenham,  and  were  favored  to  land  at  the  house  of  my  dear 
friend  George  Stacey,  in  the  evening,  where  I  very  affectionately 
parted  with  my  dear  friend,  John  S.  Eobson,  who,  while  he  was 
Avitli  me,  was  a  very  kind  and  sympathizing  companion  to  me,  and 
did  all  he  could  to  render  me  comfortable. 

In  traveling  on  the  continent  of  Europe  in  the  prosecution  of 
my  religious  concern,  I  frequently  saw  and  felt  much  in  regard  to 
many  things  which  affected  me  and  caused  me  to  mourn;  for  not- 
withstanding the  darkness  which  prevails  there  in  many  instances, 
under  the  influence  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church,  yet  in  some 
degree  the  light  of  the  gospel  is  springing  up  in  the  hearts  of  the 
people,  so  that  I  found  many  tender-hearted  people  in  my  public 
meetings  there,  who  appeared  to  be  submitting  to  the  power  of  the 
cross  of  Christ,  which  mortifies  the  seeds  of  the  body  and  leads  the 
true  believer  to  eternal  happiness. 

While  there  I  visited,  in  gospel  love,  upwards  of  a  hundred  fami- 
lies of  those  professing  with  Friends,  who  received  this  visit  with 
all  becoming  humility  and  brokenness  of  spirit,  manifesting  true 
Christian  sympathy  for  and  with  me. 

While  traveling  there,  I  was  oftentimes  distressed  in  observing 
the  First-day  of  the  week,  a  day  set  a  part  for  rest  and  public  wor- 
ship, so  aivfully  violated;  the  citizens  in  many  instances  paying  no 
more  respect  to  this  day  than  any  other  day,  but  throwing  it  open 
to  all  manner  of  looseness,  sin  and  vanity.  May  God  have  mercy 
upon  them!  It  appears  to  me,  according  to  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
that  throughout  the  Patriarchal  and  Mosaic  ages  of  the  world,  that 
the  seventh  day  of  the  week  was  sanctioned  to  man  as  a  day  of  rest. 
And  as  our  blessed  Saviour  arose  from  the  dead  on  the  first  day  of 
the  week,  and  it  is  gent'ralJij  believed  that  He  ascended  up  into 
heaven  on  the  first  day  of'  the  week,  and  the  day  of  Pentecost, 
when  the  Holy  Spirit  was  so  wondrously  poured  forth  upon  the 
Christian  believers  in  their  collective  capacity,  being  also  on  the 
first  day  of  the  week,  and  it  is  well  known  that  the  early  Christians 
did  observe  the  first  day  of  the  week  as  a  day  of  rest  and  public 
worship,  wherefore  I  believe  that  there  is  sufficient  Scripture  au- 
thority to  observe  the  first  day  of  the  week  as  a  day  set  apart  for 
rest  to  man  and  beast,  and  for  public  worship,  to  the  very  end  of 
this  world. 

The  7th.  I  this  day  attended  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends 
at  Tottenham,  and  found  it  to  be  my  duty  to  sit  with  Friends  in 
silence.  In  the  meeting  for  worship,  prayer  was  openly  offered  up  to 
the  Lord  Almighty  on  my  behalf,  by  a  dear  Friend  in  the  work  of 
the  ministry,  wlierein  I  was  commended  to  Him  and  to  the  word  of 
His  grace,  under  the  affliction  noiv  resting  upon  me  in  consequence 


JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS   AKXETT.  253 

of  the  loss  of  my  dear  wife.  Friends  of  this  place  were  very  glad 
again  to  see  me,  and  they  entered  into  the  tcnderest  sympathy  for 
and  with  me,  in  consideration  of  my  late  sore  bereavement ;  and  I 
was  very  glad  to  see  them,  and  felt  thankful  that  I  was  released 
from  being  under  the  necessity  of  laboring  in  the  gospel  for  the  good 
of  souls  through  an  interpreter,  for  it  appears  to  me  that  the  word 
of  the  ministry  of  the  gospel  passing  through  this  channel  to  the 
j)eople  will  very  much  lose  the  effect  thereof  before  it  reaches  the 
'understanding  of  the  hearers. 

The  two  folloAving  days  I  spent  quietly  in  writing  and  in  resting 
at  the  house  of  my  kind  friend,  George  Stacey ;  and  on  the  10th, 
being  First-day,  I  attended  the  morning  and  evening  meeting  of 
Friends  at  Tottenham,  and  found  much  good  service  therein  in  the 
work  of  the  ministry. 

The  11th.  I  this  day  attended  the  Second-day  morning  meeting 
of  ministers  and  elders  in  London,  wherein  way  a  little  opened  for 
me  a  little  to  inform  Friends,  in  some  small  degree,  in  a  few  in- 
stances, of  the  exercise  and  trial  attendant  on  my  religious  life,  in- 
cluding my  late  bereavement,  the  loss  of  my  dear  wife,  and  the  deep- 
est sympathy  was  responded  to  me  in  Christian  love  by  Friends  of 
this  very  interesting  meeting,  wherein  prayer  was  openly  offered  up 
to  the  Good  Shepherd  of  Israel  on  my  behalf,  by  a  dear  Friend  in 
the  work  of  the  ministry;  that  the  springs  of  consolation  might  be 
opened  to  me,  was  supplicated  for,  under  the  late  mournful  afflic- 
tion that  had  been  permitted  to  come  upon  me.  This  was  a  reliev- 
ing and  refreshing  season  to  my  afflicted  spirit  and  borne-down 
mind. 

The  two  following  days  I  again  spent  quietly  in  writing  and  in 
resting  at  my  lodging,  the  residence  of  my  dear  friend,  George 
Stacey;  and  on  the  14th  I  was  at  the  meeting  of  Friends  for  wor- 
ship at  Tottenham,  and  was  silent;  and  in  the  afternoon  I  visited 
several  aged  Friends,  who  were  not  able  to  go  out  to  meeting,  which 
visit  was,  I  believe,  mutually  helpful  in  the  blessed  truth. 

The  loth,  I  this  day  traveled  on  railroad  conveyance  to  Notting- 
ham, where  on  the  next  day  I  spent  in  reading,  writing  and  in  med- 
itation; and  on  the  17th,  being  First-day,  I  attended  Friends' meet- 
ing there  in  the  morning,  and  in  the  evening  I  held  a  public  meet- 
ing there,  which  was  well  attended.  In  both  these  meetings  the 
Lord  was  mercifully  with  me,  and  opened  my  mouth  and  enlarged 
my  heart  toward  the  people.     Praised  be  His  name  forever ! 

The  18th.  A  day  of  pleasant  meditation  with  me.  My  mind 
was  much  humbled,  under  a  sense  of  the  mercy  and  goodness  of 
God  to  me.     I  S})ent  this  day  mostly  in  writing. 

The  19th.  I  this  day  traveled  to  Gainsborough,  and  on  the  next 
day  attended  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends  tliere,  where  I  again 
met  with  my  dear  friend,  Richard  F.  Foster,  under  religious  concern 
"again"  to  travel  with  me  a  Avhile,  whose  prospect  was  as  cordial  to 


^54  JOURXAL   OF   THOMAS   ARNETl  1850 

my  soul.     We  had  good  service  in  this  meeting,  and  Fiiends  ap- 
peared to  be  very  glad  to  see  us,  among  whom  we  felt  comforted. 

The  21st.  We  this  evening  held  a  large  and  crowded  meeting  at 
Blyton,  in  Hickman's  Court-room,  so  called.  The  Lord  was  mer- 
cifully with  us  on  this  occasion,  and  granted  us  strength  and  wis- 
dom to  labor  in  His  good  cause,  to  the  glory  and  honor  of  His  wor- 
thy name. 

The  22nd.  We  this  evening  held  a  deeply  interesting  meeting  at 
Sturton,  in  the  Methodist  chapel,  where  the  fountain  of  the  water 
of  life  was  opened  freely,  to  the  refreshing  of  many  precious,  hun- 
gry and  thirsty  souls.  Praised  forever  he  the  name  of  the  everlast- 
ing God  I 

The  23rd.  We  spent  this  day  quietly  at  a  Friend's  house,  in 
reading,  writing,  and  in  meditation,  feeling  peaceful  in  mind  under 
the  spring  of  divine  consolation. 

The  24th.  We  this  morning,  being  First-day,  attended  Friends' 
meeting  at  Gainsborough,  wherein  I  sat  in  sulfering  silence.  My 
dear  companion,  however,  found  much  good  service  in  the  work  of 
the  ministry  of  the  gospel.  In  the  evening  we  held  a  public  meet- 
ing in  tills  town,  in  the  Corn  Exchange.  About  a  thousand  peo- 
ple attended  this  meeting,  among  whom  the  testimony  of  the  ever- 
lasting truth  went  forth,  to  the  humility  and  edification  of  many 
minds.  The  meeting  solemnly  closed  with  prayer  and  supplication 
to  the  good  and  merciful  Shepherd  of  Israel.  Praised  forever  be 
His  name  I 

The  25th.  A  day  of  pleasant  meditation  with  me,  the  spring  of 
consolation  being  opened  to  my  weary  and  afflicted  soul,  so  that  I 
rejoiced  in  the  God  of  my  salvation.  We  this  evening  held  a  meet- 
ing at  Scotter,  in  the  Methodist  chapel,  where  several  hundred  peo- 
ple were  in  attendance,  among  whom  there  were  many  precious, 
hungry,  thirsty  and  baptized  souls,  unto  whom  the  fountain  of  the 
water  of  eternal  life  was  opened  freely,  to  their  encouragement  and 
refreshment,  and  sinners  were  Avarned  and  called  to  repentance. 
Praised  forever  be  the  name  of  God! 

The  26th.  I  was  this  day  under  much  exercise  of  mind.  I  se- 
cretly approached  the  throne  of  grace,  and  supplicated  the  God_  of 
my  salvation  for  mercy  and  protection,  knowing  that  I  had  nothing 
to"^depend  upon  but  His  mercy  and  grace,  so  as  to  be  preserved  from 
evil  on  every  hand.  We  this  eVening  held  a  large  and  highly  favored 
meeting  at  Epworth,  in  the  Methodist  chapel.  Those  who  attended 
were  fjoieraUij  religious  people,  among  whom  the  uniting  testimony 
of  truth  went  forth,  to  the  breaking  down  of  the  spirit  of  disunity 
and  discord  among  the  professors  of  Christiiiuity.  I  thought  that 
many  precious  and  sincere  souls  were  edified  in  tliis  meeting. 

The  27th.  We  this  morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends,  as 
it  came  in  course,  at  Brigg,  and  although  it  was  small,  yet  it  was  a 
very  favored  and  refreshing  season;  and  in  the  evening  we  held  a 


mo  JOUKNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  255 

/ 

public  meeting  there,  in  the  Corn  Exchange.  A.bout  a  thousand 
people  attended  this  meeting,  who  appeared  generally  to  be  very  in- 
telligent, among  whom  the  light  of  the  gospel  went  forth,  to  the 
calling  up  of  much  interest  and  strong  desire  so  to  walk  in  the 
way  of  the  power  of  the  Cross  while  in  this  world  as  finally  to  be 
saved  with  an  everlasting  salvation.  Praised  eternally  be  the  name  of 
Ood! 

The  28th.  We  this  evening  held  a  very  interesting  meeting  at 
Barton,  in  the  Temperance  Hall.  Several  hundred  people  were  in 
attendance,  among  whom  the  free  offer  of  eternal  salvation  through 
the  gospel  in  the  name  of  the  blessed  Saviour  went  forth,  to  the  hu- 
mility of  many  minds.  I  thought  that  every  state  in  this  meeting 
was  spoken  to  in  the  light  of  truth.  Praised  forever  be  the  name  of 
God! 

The  29th.  Our  service  on  this  day  was  a  meeting  in  the  evening 
at  Winterton,  in  the  Temperance  Hall,  which  was  a  large  and  very 
good  meeting,  wherein  truth  reigned  over  all,  to  the  glory  of  God; 
and  on  the  next  day  I  very  affectionately  again  parted  with  my  dear, 
worthy  and  sympathizing  friend,  Richard  F.  Foster,  he  feeling  his 
mind  again  turned  toward  home.  We  traveled  together  while  he 
was  with  me  in  the  unity  of  the  spirit,  in  the  bond  of  peace ;  and 
on  this  day,  after  parting  with  him,  I  traveled  to  the  neighborhood 
of  Broughton. 

12th  month,  first, — and  the  First-day  of  the  week.  I  this  morn- 
ing attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at  Broughton,  which  was  a 
small  and  very  good  meeting;  and  in  the  evening  I  held  a  precious 
and  open  meeting  there,  wherein  I  was  much  opened  in  the  liberty  of 
the  everlasting  gospel.     Praised  forever  be  the  Lord  I 

The  2nd.  I  this  morning  received  another  deeply  affecting  let- 
ter from  a  dear  friend  of  my  own  Yearly  Meeting,  conveying  to  me 
the  sorrowful  intelligence  of  the  death  of  two  dear  sisters  of  my 
dear  wife,  who  recently  departed  this  life, — one  in  my  own  neigh- 
borhood, and  the  other  one  near  thereto.  It  appears  that  they  made 
a  glorious  and  happy  end  through  the  meritorious  suffering  and  the 
righteousness  of  our  adorable  Redeemer.  The  succession  of  such 
intelligence  deeply  affects  me,  so  that  I  again  this  day  dwelt  much 
alone  and  wept  bitterly.  I  poured  fortli  my  tears  in  solitary  places. 
The  language  of  my  heart  was,  "Save  me,  0  God,  for  the  waters 
are  come  in  unto  my  soul."  "I  am  come  into  deep  Avaters,  where 
the  floods  overflow  me."  Deliver  me,  0  my  God,  and  let  me 
not  sink.  "Hear  me,  0  Lord,  for  thy  loving  kindness  is  great. 
Turn  unto  me  according  to  the  multitude  of  thy  tender  mer- 
cies," and  cause  all  these,  my  deep  trials  and  afflictions, 
more  and  more  to  work  together  for  my  good.  "Let  not  the  water- 
flood  overflow  me,  neither  let  the  deep  swallow  me  up,"  but  pre- 
serve me,  0  God,  according  to  thy  mercy  and  judgment,  amidst  all 
my  heights  and  depths,  and  provide  and  open  the  way  for  me  while 
I  am  in  this  world,  on  every  hand,  according  to  thy  wisdom. 


256  JOUKXAL    OF   THOMAS   AKNETT.  1830 

I  this  evening  lield  a  meeting  at  Navenby.  in  the  Methodist 
chapel,  where  about  five  hundred  people  attended,  many  of  whom 
were  God-fearinf/  people.  I  was  much  set  at  liberty  in  the  ti-uth  in 
this  meeting.  The  power  of  divine  grace  was  magnified,  and  the 
blessed  truth  reigned  over  all.  Exalted  forever  be  the  great  and 
worthy  name! 

The  3rd.  A  day  of  much  exercise  with  me,  Avherein  I  Avas  much 
alone,  and  shed  many  secret  tears.  No  language  can  describe  my 
solitary  feeling.  I  felt,  however,  re^iewedly  that  I  was  going  the 
way  of  all  the  earth,  and  that  I  had  provided  for  me,  through  the 
merc}^  of  God,  a  home  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens. 
In  the  evening  I  held  a  good  open  meeting  at  Leadenham,  in  the 
village  hall,  wherein  I  thought  every  soul  in  attendance  was  merci- 
fully visited  through  the  love  of  God.  Praised  forever  be  his  great, 
glorious  and  worthy  name! 

The  4th.  I  this  evening  held  a  precious  and  open  meeting  at 
Pulbeck,  in  a  barn,  fitted  up  for  the  purpose.  The  people  in  attend- 
ance were  very  still  and  quiet,  and  received  the  word  of  truth  which 
was  delivered  to  them  in  the  demonstration  of  the  spirit  and  with 
power,  to  much  benefit. 

The  5th.  I  was  this  day  brought  under  renewed  deep  exercise 
of  mind,  in  which  I  felt  my  entire  dependence  on  the  Good  Shep- 
herd of  Israel  for  every  good  and  perfect  gift.  I  in  the  evening 
held  another  jiublic  meeting  at  Nottingham,  in  the  Corn  Exchange. 
Upwards  of  two  thousand  people  attended  this  meeting,  which  was 
a  very  mixed  congregation,  ^Jeople  of  various  persuasions  in  regard 
to  religion  being  present,  among  whom  the  uniting  testimony  of  tlie 
great  doctrine  of  Christian  redemption  went  forth  in  the  authority  of 
truth,  to  the  breaking  down  of  prejudices  between  the  Christian 
churches.  This  was  a  most  glorious  meeting,  and  07ie  that  will 
long  be  remembered  for  good.  Blessed  be  the  name  of  God  for- 
ever! 

The  6th,  I  this  evening  held  a  pretty  good  open  meeting  at 
Theanor,  in  the  Methodist  chapel,  wherein  the  great  duty  of  divine 
worship  is  illustrated,  to  the  edification  of  a  respectable  congregation 
of  Christians  of  various  persuasions,  who  were  in  this  meeting  a 
little  reneiuedly  united  in  the  love  of  the  Christian  religion  ;  and 
the  next  day  I  sjjent  quietly  at  a  friend's  house  in  resting  and 
writing. 

The  8th.  Being  First-day,  I  this  morning  attended  the  meeting 
of  Friends  at  Derby,  and  in  the  evening  I  held  a  large,  crowded 
public  meeting  there.  In  both  these  meetings  I  was  drawn  to  la- 
bors I  believe,  effectually  in  the  love  of  the  gospel,  to  the  edification 
of  many  sincere  and  ])re(aous  souls. 

The  9th.  I  on  tiiis  and  the  next  day  attended  the  service  of  the 
Montlily  and  the  Quarterly  Meetings  of  Friends  at  Chesterfield,  and 
on  the  evening  of  tlie  latter  day  I  held  a  public  meetingthere,  which 


1850  JOL'KXAL    OF   THOMAS    AKNETT.  257 

was  largely  attended.  Through  the  whole  of  these  meetings  it  was 
a  season  of  much  heavenly  refreshment  to  many  borne-down  and 
afflicted  souls.     Blessed  be  God  forevermore! 

The  11th.  I  this  evening  held  a  good  open  meeting  at  Monyash, 
in  the  Methodist  chapel.  This  was  a  large,  crowded  meeting,  which 
was  much  crowned  with  the  overshadowing  of  divine  grace.  The 
sincere  were  encouraged,  and  the  wicked  were  warned  to  flee  betimes 
from  the  wrath  to  come. 

The  12th.  I  Avas  this  day  led  into  sweet,  delightful  meditation  of 
Him  Avho  created  the  heavens  and  the  earth  for  the  purpose  of  His 
own  glory.  JMy  soul  was  deeply  humbled  before  Him.  under  a  re- 
newed sense  of  His  continual  mercy  and  protection  to  man.  Praised 
forever  be  His  name  I 

In  the  evening  I  held  a  luminous  and  very  interesting  meeting  at 
Bakewell,  in  the  Independent  Congregational  meeting-house,  where 
I  met  about  five  hundred  people,  [jcneraUji  professing  much  intelli- 
genca  and  religious  experience,  among  whom  the  doctrine  of  the  gos- 
pel went  forth,  to  the  edification  of  this  respectable  congregation,  and 
to  the  glory  of  the  great  name  of  God. 

The  13tli.  I  this  evening  held  a  good  and  glorious  meeting  at 
Castle-Donington,  in  the  Methodist  chapel.  .Several  hundred  peo- 
ple attended  this  meeting,  who  were  very  still  and  ((uiet,  and  re- 
ceived the  word  of  the  gospel,  which  was  delivered  among  them  in 
the  obedience  of  faitli.  It  appeared  to  me  that  the  light  of  Christ 
"did  sliine"  forth  in  this  meeting,  to  the  oi)ening  and  to  the  illumin- 
ation of  the  understanding  of  many.  Blessed  forever  be  His 
name ! 

The  14th.  I  this  day  traveled  to  Mansfield,  and  the  next  day 
being  First-day,  I  attended  Friends'  meeting  there  in  the  morning, 
which,  through  the  mercy  of  the  Good  Shepherd  of  Israel,  was 
made  a  good  refreshing  season;  and  in  the  evening  I  held  a  large 
public  meeting  there,  whereiu  I  was  brought  under  much  exercise 
in  gospel  labor  in  directing  the  people  to  the  teaching  of  the  light  of 
Christ.  This  was,  through  adorable  mercy,  a  pretty  good  meeting. 
Blessed  be  the  Lord  forevermore  I 

The  16th.  I  this  day  held  a  good  and  glorious  meeting  at  Blyth, 
wherein  the  love  of  the  blessed  Saviour  prevailed,  to  the  melting 
down  of  all  in  attendance  in  deep  humility  and  brokenness  of  heart. 
I  was  much  set  at  liberty  in  this  meeting,  in  a  little  illustrating  the 
blessed  effect  of  the  love  of  the  everlasting  gospel,  to  good  satis- 
faction. 

The  l?th.  I  rested  this  day  quietly  at  a  Friend's  house,  my  health 
being  poor,  and  I  feeling  borne  down  under  the  Aveight  of  religious 
exercises;  and  on  the  next  day  I  traveled  to  the  city  of  Lincoln, 
where,  on  the  19th,  I  attended  the  service  of  the  Quarterly  Meeting 
of  Friends  held  there.  This  was  a  small  but  most  interesting  meet- 
ing, wherein  it  appeared  to  me  that  the  fountain  of  gospel  ministry 


258  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  ^gjo 

was  mercifully  thrown  open  for  labor  to  a  number  of  worthy  Friends 
who  have  been  called  up  into  this  great  work,  among  whom  Avas  a 
dear  friend,  Mary  M.  Thompson,  being  her^rs^  appearance  in  the 
work  of  the  public  ministry,  who  had  /o«^been  under  the  preparing 
hand  for  such  service.  She  arose  with  much  weight  of  spirit,  and 
Avith  that  humility  and  dignity  attendant  on  the  gospel,  and  deliv- 
ered a  few  words  in  demonstration  of  the  spirit  and  with  jjower. 
May  the  everlasting  God  bless  her  I  May  he  preserve  and  sustain 
her  on  every  hand,  and  may  He  give  her  an  enlargement  in  His 
work,  and  finally  crown  her  Avith  peace  immortal  in  the  house  not 
made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens. 

I  in  the  evening  held  a  public  meeting  for  the  citizens  of  this 
city,  in  the  Corn  Exchange.  About  five  thousand  people  attended 
this  meeting,  among  whom  the  testimony  of  the  everlasting  gospel 
went  forth,  to  the  glory  of  the  name  of  the  Good  Shepherd  of 
Israel.  Christian  believers  Avere  much  encouraged,  and  sinners 
Avere  impressively  called  and  warned  to  flee  from  the  Avrath  to  come. 
This  Avas  a  glorious  and  heavenly  meeting.  May  all  the  praise  be 
given  to  God,  who  is  Avorthy  eternally! 

The  30th.  I  this  day,  after  paying  some  social  visits  to  some  in- 
teresting characters  in  the  city  of  Lincoln,  in  the  evening  held  a 
pretty  good  meeting  at  Wadington,  in  the  Methodist  chapel.  Those 
in  attendance  Avere  generally  serious  and  sober-minded  people,  and 
thankfully  received  the  Avord  of  truth  "delivereir'  among  them  in 
the  obedience  of  saving  faith. 

The  21st.  I  this  day  ayai7i  returned  to  the  kind  house  of  my 
dear  friend,  George  Stacey,  at  Tottenham-  and  the  next  day  being- 
First-day,  I  attended  Friends'  meeting  there  in  the  morning,  Avherein 
I  sat  in  very  comfortable  silence;  and  in  the  evening  I  held  a  large 
and  highly  favored  meeting  there,  to  very  good  satisfaction  to 
Friends  and  others,  wherein  my  mind  was  much  opened  in  the  illus- 
tration of  the  Avay  to  eternal  happiness.  I  believe  that  many  were 
much  edified  under  divine  grace  in  this  meeting. 

After  this,  during  the  three  following  days,  I  attended  the  service 
of  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends  in  the  city  of  London,  held 
at  Devonshii'e  House.  tJpAvards  of  a  thousand  Friends  attended 
this- meeting,  and,  through  adorable  mercy,  I  thought  that  thisAvas 
07ie  of  the  best  quarterly  meetings  that  I  ever  attended.  The  mercy 
of  the  everlasting  God  Avas  abundantly  extended  to  us,  so  that  we 
were  renewedly  united  together  in  Christian  love.  Praised  forever 
be  the  Lord. 

After  the  close  of  this  quarterly  meeting,  during  the  three  fol- 
lowing days,  I  rested  quietl}'^  in  reading,  Avriting  and  meditation  at 
a  Friend's  house,  my  health  being  poor;  and  on  the  29th,  being 
First-day,  I  attended  Friends'  meeting  at  Stoke-Newington  in  the 
morning,  and  held  a  public  meeting  there  in  the  evening,  and  the 
good  spirit  of  God  was  Avith  me  this  day,  to  the  edification  and  hu- 
mility of  many. 


1851  •  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  259 

The  30th.  I  this  evening  held  a  public  meeting  at  South wark, 
which  was  well  attended,  and  on  the  next  day  I  attended  Friends' 
Meeting  there  as  it  came  in  course.  On  both  of  these  occasions 
the  good  spirit  was  with  us,  whereby  I  was  enabled  to  labor  in 
Christian  love,  to  the  satisfaction  and  edification  of  many  sweet- 
spirited  Christians. 

First  Month,  1st,  1851,  This  was  a  very  solemn  and  impressive 
day  with  me.  All  withiu  me  was  deeply  humbled  under  consider- 
ation of  the  deep  affliction  that  came  upon  me  through  the  course 
of  the  past  year.  Strong  and  earnest  was  my  prayer  to  the  Lord 
Almighty  for  my  preservation  and  protection  on  every  hand.  My 
spirit,  under  his  grace,  was  enabled  to  cry  out  in  this  language  : 
^'0  Lord,  thou  art  my  God.  I  will  exalt  thee  ;  I  will  praise  thy 
name,  for  thou  hast  done  wonderful  things.  Thy  counsels  of  old 
are  faithfulness  and  truth."  When  ''I  found  trouble  and  sorrow, 
then  called  I  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord."  ''^ I  was  brought  low 
and  he  helped  me  ;  return  unto  thy  rest,  0  my  soul,  for  the  Lord 
hath  dealt  bountifully  with  thee."  "I  will  walk  before  the  Lord 
in  the  law  of  the  living,"  according  to  his  mercy  and  grace  bestowed 
upon  me,  for  he  hath  "delivered  my  soul  from  death,  mine  eyes 
from  tears,  and  my  feet  from  falling."  "I  was  greatly  afflicted," 
and  I  cried  to  him  and  he  heard  me  and  comforted  my  spirit. 
"  What  shall  I  render  unto  the  Lord  for  all  his  benefits  toward 
me  ?  I  will  take  the  cup  of  salvation,  and  call  upon  the  name  of 
the  Lord."  I  will  cast  my  burden  upon  him,  and  then  I  know  that 
he  will  sustain  me  and  keep  me  on  every  hand,  to  the  glory  of  his 
name.  He  will  then  never  suffer  me  to  be  moved  out  of  the  right 
way,  but  the  angel  of  his  presence  will  save  me. 

.1  this  morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at  Deptford,  and 
held  in  the  evening  a  public  meeting  there.  Both  these  meetings 
were  seasons  of  much  sj^iritual  refreshment  and  strength,  wherein 
thanksgiving  and  praise  were  rendered  unto  the  Lord  for  all  his 
mercies. 

The  next  day  I  spent  quietly  at  a  friend's  house,  in  resting  and 
in  writing,  and  on  the  3d,  in  the  morning,  I  attended  the  Meeting 
of  Suffering  of  Friends  in  London,  with  feelings  of  much  interest ; 
and  in  the  evening  I  held  a  pretty  good  and  open  public  meeting  at 
Peckham,  and  the  next  day  I  S2)ent  in  visiting  some  Friends,  to 
good  satisfaction. 

The  5th,  being  First-day,  I  attended  Friends'  Meeting  in  the 
morning  at  Devonshire  House  in  London,  which  Avas  a  good  and 
refreshing  season  ;  and  in  the  evening  I  held  a  public  meeting  there, 
where  upward  of  a  thousand  people  attended,  among  whom  the 
everlasting  gospel  was  preached,  in  the  demonstration  of  the  spirit 
and  with  power. 

I  this  evening,  after  this  meeting,  received  the  following  kind 
and  very  affectionate  letter  : 


260  JOURNAL   OF    THOMAS    AKNETT.  .  1851 

Chelmsford,  First  Mo.,  2d,  1851. 
My  Esteemed  axd  Dear  FriekiJ  : 

Many  times,  perhaps  I  might  say  during  every  passing  day  that 
has  elapsed  since  I  lieard  of  the  sore  bereavement  permitted  to  befall 
thee,  has  my  mind  saluted  thee  in  the  feeling  of  deep  and  tender 
sympathy,  and  I  have  often  desired  to  express  a  little  of  that  which 
1  belive  has  been  the  fellowship  of  suffering  ;  but  from  a  sense  of 
unworthiness,  and  of  my  incapacity  to  pen  anything  worthy  of  thy 
perusal,  I  have  been  fearful  of  addressing  thee  ;  but  now,  hearing 
that  thou  art  in  the  vicinity  of  London,  I  can  scarcely  do  less  than 
to  acknowledge  that  I  have  been  a  true  mourner  for  the  great  loss 
which  thou  hast  sustained,  for  I  felt  a  peculiar  nearness  to  thy 
precious  wife.  But  whilst  I  felt  tenderly  for  thee  and  for  all  who 
were  closely  united  to  thy  beloved,  departed  own,  I  am  sensible  that 
on  her  account  thanksgiving,  and  not  sorrow,  may  be  justly  the 
clothing  of  each  spirit,  for  I  have  not  the  least  doubt  that,  through 
living  faith  in  the  all-availing  mediation  of  tlie  blessed  Redeemer, 
she  was  favored  to  obtain  a  glorious  victor y  over  all  that  could  obstruct 
an  entrance  into  the  everlasting  kingdom  of  our  God  and  Saviour, 
and  that  she  now  unites  with  that  countless  multitude  that  surround 
the  throne  in  ascribing  glory  and  honor  and  power  unto  him  who 
bought  them  with  his  blood ;  and  while  mentally  saluting  them, 
dear  friend,  I  have  always  felt  an  assurance  that  thy  gracious  Lord 
and  Master  is  with  thee.  He  has  sustained  thee  in  every  season  of 
conflict  and  affliction.  His  candle  shines  about  thy  head,  and  by 
His  light  thou  art  enabled  to  walk  as  through  darkness,  and  to 
glorify  thy  God  as  in  the  midst  of  the  fire;  and  oftentimes  thou  dost 
renewedly  experience  his  helping  hand  and  qualifying  power,  and 
cans't  say  without  boasting  and  in  perfect  sincerity,  "I  count  all 
things  but  loss  that  I  may  win  Christ  and  be  found  in  Him.''  He 
will  in  His  own  good  time  cause  thee  to  finish  thy  "course  with 
joy,  and  the  ministry  which  thou  hast  received  of  the  Lord  Jesus. '^ 
It  affected  me  also  to  hear  of  the  decease  of  thy  sisters-in-law,  but 
thou  art  given  to  say  in  truth,  thy  will,  0  Lord,  be  done.  Fare- 
well.    With  much  love  and  Christian  sympathy,  I  am  thy 

Affectionate  friend, 

Susanna  Corder. 

The  6th.  I  spent  this  day  in  visiting  some  Friends,  rather  in  a 
social  way,  and  the  next  day  1  held  a  good  open  meeting  at  Epping 
for  Friends  and  others;  and  after  this,  through  the  two  following 
days,  I  attended  the  service  of  the  Monthly  Sleeting  of  Friends  at 
Stoke-Newington  and  Tottenham , where  the  Lord  was  mercifully  with 
me,  and  granted  me  wisdom  and  strength  to  labor  in  the  love  of  the 
gos])el,  to  the  satisfaction  of  Friends. 

The  lUth.  I  this  evening  held  a  public  meeting  at  Winchmore 
Hill,  which  was  well  attended,  and  where  the  warning  and  the  call 
of  tlie  gospel  went  forth   impressively,  to  the  humility  of  many 


1851  JOUKNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  261 

minds;  and  Mie  next  day  I  devoted  to  quietness,  resting  and  writing 
at  a  friend's  house. 

The  12th.  Being  First-day,  I  this  morning  attended  tlic  meeting 
of  Friends  at  Westminster,  in  London,  and  in  tlie  evening  I  held  a 
large  and  very  interesting  public  meeting  tliere.  The  good  spirit 
of  God  was  mercifully  with  me  this  day,  and  enabled  me  to  labor 
to  the  edification  of  the  children  of  light,  and  to  maintain  the  doc- 
trine, according  to  the  Holy  Scriptures,  of  the  peaceable  nature  of 
the  kingdom  of  Christ.     Praised  forever  be  His  name! 

The  13th.  I  this  day  attended  the  Second-day  morning  Meeting 
of  Ministers  and  Elders,  in  London,  with  feelings  of  interest;  and  the 
next  day  I  attended  tiie  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends  at  Southwark, 
which  was  a  precious  and  favored  opportunity. 

The  15th.  I  this  day  attended  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends  at 
Staims,  where  I  met  with  some  kind  and  very  interesting  Friends, 
among  whom  I  was  much  opened  in  gospel  love,  to  good  satisfaction. 

The  16th.  I  this  evening  held  a  meeting  at  Brentford,  for 
Friends  and  others,  which  was  well  attended,  wlierein  the  everlast- 
ing truth  prevailed,  to  the  humility  and  edification  of  many  minds. 

The  17th.  I  was  this  day  led  into  pleasing  meditation  on  various 
subjects.  The  good  spirit  was  with  me,  and  granted  me  much 
comfort  and  peace.  I  in  the  evening  held  a  public  meeting  at  Ux- 
bridge,  wherein  I  was  led,  under  divine  grace,  a  little  to  illustrate  the 
great  doctrine  of  Christian  redemption,  to  the  comfort  and  en- 
couragement of  many  minds.  Praised  forever  be  the  Lord  !  And 
the  next  day  I  spent  pleasantly,  in  company  with  some  dear  friends, 
in  traveling  a  little  for  exercise  and  for  the  benefit  of  my  health, 
being  a  good  deal  unwell  in  body. 

The  19th.  Being  First-day,  and  a  time  long  to  be  remembered 
by  many  for  good,  1  this  morniug  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends 
at  Staims;  and  in  the  evening  I  held  a  public  meeting  there,  and 
truly  the  everlasting  God  was  with  me  this  day,  and  mercifully 
opened  and  illuminated  my  understanding,  so  that  I  was  enabled 
under  His  grace  to  defend  His  good  cause,  to  the  glory  and  to  the 
honor  of  His  great  and  worthy  name.  All  the  praise  l>elongs  to 
Him  forever. 

The  20th.  I  this  evening,  with  feelings  of  deep  humility,  held  a 
public  meeting  at  Windsor,  in  the  Town  Hall,  where  I  met  a  very 
respectable  congregation,  among  whom  the  great  doctrine  of  prac- 
tical Christianity  was  thrown  oj^en  in  the  love  of  the  gospel,  to  the 
humility  and  edification  of  many  j^recious  souls ;  and  on  the  next 
day  I  returned  to  London,  where,  on  the  22nd,  in  the  evening,  I  at- 
tended a  meeting  held  for  the  youth  of  our  society  at  Gracechurcli 
street,  which  was  a  very  tender  and  impressive  season. 

After  this,  during  the  three  following  days,  I  found  it  to  be  nec- 
essary to  rest  a  little  and  to  submit  to  some  suitable  medical  aid, 
my  he  ilth  being  poor,  which,  through  the  Christian  attention  of. 


262  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  185J 

some  dear  friends,  and  the  mercy  of  God,  was  in  some  degree  im- 
proved . 

Tlie  2Gth.  Being  First-day,  and  a  time  of  mncli  divine  favor, 
I  this  morning  attended  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends  in  London; 
and  in  the  evening  I  held  a  large  i)ublic  meeting  there,  and  this 
day's  labor  with  me  was  crowned  with  glory  and  immortality,  to  the 
humility,  the  tenderness  and  the  edification  of  many  precious  and 
baptized  souls.     Glory  forever  be  given  to  the  Lord  Almighty! 

The  27th.  I  spent  this  day  in  writing  and  in  paying  some  social 
visits  to  some  interesting  Friends,  to  good  satisfaction;  and  the  next 
day,  in  the  evening,  I  held  a  good  and  open  meeting  at  Esher  for 
Friends  and  others,  where,  through  the  power  of  truth,  the  sin- 
cere were  encouraged,  and  sinners  were  warned  betimes  to  flee 
from  the  wrath  to'come.     This  was  a  good  meeting  to  many. 

The  29th.  I  this  morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at 
Kingston,  as  it  came  m  course,  and  held  there  a  public  meeting  in 
the  evening;  and  through  the  everlasting  gospel  many  precious  souls 
were  reached  and  deeply  humbled  as  in  dust  and  ashes  among  those 
who  assembled  with  me  this  day  for  the  purpose  of  divine  Avorship. 
Truth  reigned  over  all,  and  the  doctrine  of  life  and  salvation  was 
lively  set  forth,  to  the  glory  and  honor  of  the  Good  Shepherd  of 
Israel. 

The  30th.  My  service  this  day  was  that  of  attending  the  meet- 
ing of  Friends  at  Wandsworth  in  the  morning,  and  of  holding  a 
public  meeting  there  in  the  evening,  Avhere  tiie  blessed  truth  very 
sweetly  united  those  in  attendance  in  the  bond  of  true  Christian 
fellowship. 

The  31st.  A  day  of  sorrow  and  much  depression  of  spirit  with 
me.  I  this  morning  received  a  very  affectionate  letter  from  a  dear 
friend  of  Lidiana,  giving  me  the  mournful  intelligence  of  the  death 
of  a  dear  friend  of  mine,  who  was  a  worthy  and  very  promising 
young  Friend.  This  account  deeply  touched  my  heart,  and  raised 
in  me  renewed  mourning  of  spirit.  0  my  God,  sanctify,  I  pray 
thee,  all  my  trials  and  privations,  to  the  glory  of  thy  name  and  to 
the  good  of  thy  cause;  and  let  me  more  and  more  be  patient  under 
all  the  turning  and  the  overturning  of  thy  holy  hand  upon  me,  for 
''even  to-day  is  my  complaint  bitter — my  stroke  is  heavier  than  my 
groaning."  I  am  borne  down  in  spirit,  and  I  have  none  to  look 
unto  for  support  but  to  thee.  Holy  Saviour.  I  beseech  thee  to  pre- 
serve and  sustain  me  on  every  hand  through  all  to  the  end,  to  the 
glory  and  honor  of  tiiy  worthy  name. 

I  this  evening  visited  a  very  interesting  school  of  boys  and  girls, 
under  the  care  of  Friends,  at  Croydon.  There  were  a  hundred  and 
twenty  students  in  this  school,  and  in  my  visit  among  them  the 
good  spirit  reached  tiieir  hearts  and  sealed  much  instruction  on 
their  understanding. 

2nd  month,  lirst.     I  sjjent  tiiis  day  ({uietly  at  a  friend's  house  at 


1851  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKXETT.  2G3 

Croydon,  in  resting  and  in  meditation,  and  the  next  day  being  First- 
day^  I  attended  tlie  meeting  of  Friends  there  in  the  morning  and 
also  in  the  evening.  I  held  there  a  large,  open  and  crowded  meet- 
ing, and  truly  this  ajipeared  to  me  to  be  a  glorious  and  very  lumin- 
ous day  with  many  who  were  assembled  with  me  for  the  purpose  of 
divine  worship.  The  windows  of  heaven  appeared  to  be  opened 
unto  us,  and  under  divine  grace  many  precious  souls  were  humbled 
and  visited;  and  after  this  I  spent  the  two  following  days  in  resting, 
reading,  writing,  and  in  visiting  some  families  of  Friends,  to  good 
satisfaction. 

The  5th.  I  this  morning  attended  the  usual  mid-week  meeting 
of  Friends  at  Croydon,  where  I  had  the  satisfaction  to  meet  with 
my  dear  friends,  Hannah  Eliodes,  and  her  companion,  Elizabeth 
Pearson,  of  Philadelphia,  in  America,  who  are  in  this  country,  en- 
gaged in  the  prosecution  of  a  gospel  mission.  While  being  to- 
gether we  were  favored  with  that  true  sympathy  for  each  other 
which  ever  unites  the  children  of  God  in  Christian  fellowship. 

I  in  the  evening  held  a  public  meeting  at  Gracechurch  street,  in 
London,  where  those  in  attendance,  being  in  a  capacity  of  spirit  to 
receive  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it,  therefore  the  gospel  was  preached 
in  the  demonstration  of  the  spirit  and  with  power.  I  thought  that 
some  good  was  done  in  this  meeting.  It  appeared  to  me  that  under 
the  power  of  the  cross  of  Christ  that  every  soul  in  attendance  was 
visited.     Blessed  be  the  Lord  forever! 

The  6th.  I  this  morning  attended  the  Meeting  of  Friends  at 
Plaistow,  as  it  came  in  course,  where  I  found  much  good  service  for 
the  Lord;  and  in  the  evening  I  held  a  large  and  crowded  meeting 
at  Barking,  in  the  Town  Hall,  where  I  was  enabled  to  speak  to  the 
states  of  the  people  to  their  deep  humility  and  edification. 

The  two  following  days  I  spent  at  the  very  kind  house  of  my 
friend  Samuel  Gurney,  in  resting  and  in  writing,  and,  while  there, 
I  could  but  admire  the  Christian  order  of  this  interesting  and 
worthy  family,  particularly  in  regard  to  family  divine  worship,  he, 
his  family,  including  his  servants,  coming  together  every  morning 
for  the  discharge  of  this  duty,  and  after  reading  a  suitable  portion 
of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  with  a  subsequent  pause,  a  little  centering 
the  mind  in  God,  the  eternal  substance,  for  the  arising  of  the  true 
life  in  the  soul,  and  in  thus  waiting  in  the  silence  of  all  flesh  for 
the  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  on  such  occasions  it  appeared  to 
me  that  Christian  solemnity  much  pervaded  these  opportunities  in 
this  family. 

The  9th,  being  First-day,  I  attended  in  the  morning  Friends' 
meeting  at  Ratcliff,  and  held  there  in  the  evening  a  large  public 
meeting,  and  the  spirit  of  life  and  salvation  abundantly  attended 
the  ministry  of  the  word  given  to  me  this  day,  so  that  many 
hearts  were  reached  and  melted  down  into  deep  humility  and  tender 
contrition;  the  seed  of  life  in  every  soul  was  visited;  the  faithful 


264  JOURXAL   OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  X851 

were  much  encouraged  in  the  way  of  a  lioly  life,  and  sinners  were 
Avarned  and  called  to  repentance,  and  tlie  way  was  pointed  out,  in 
gospel  love,  to  receive  doliveranco  from  the  bondage  of  sin  and  death. 
May  all  the  praise  forever  be  ascribed  to  Him  who  sitteth  upon  the 
throne  I 

After  this,  in  consequence  of  much  complicated  bodily  indisposi- 
tion, it  became  necessary  for  me  to  rest  awhile,  and  to  throw  myself 
under  suitable  medical  care  and  aid  for  the  improvement  of  my 
health,  being  very  much  worn  out  in  holding  so  many  jniblic  meet- 
ings; and  finding  so  much  pul)lic  labor  therein  thrown  upon  me  by 
HimAvho  has  mercifully  called  me  and  sent  me  fortli  in  the  mission 
of  his  everlasting  gospel,  1  was  much  afflicted  in  my  throat,  which 
had  become  ulcerated  in  consequence  of  so  much  public  speaking; 
and  being  otherwise  possessed  of  bodily  infirmity,  I  therefore, 
under  solid  consideration,  and  with  the  advice  of  some  dear  and 
experienced  friendfS,  spent  the  two  following  weeks  in  the  city  of 
London,  in  a  retired  manner  from  all  public  exercise  and  labor, 
under  wise  and  experienced  medical  attention  and  operation,  to  the 
benefit  and  improvement  of  my  health. 

The  23d,  being  First-day,  I  again  in  the  morning  attended  the 
Meeting  of  Friends  at  Pla'istow,  and  held  there  in  the  evening  a 
public  meeting;  and  under  the  renewed  anointing  of  the  everlasting 
truth.  I  was  this  day  enabled  to  labor  in  the  gospel  to  the  humility 
and  edification  oC  many  precious  and  sincere  souls,  and  the  next 
day  I  devoted  in  degree  to  retirement  of  spirit,  and  also  in  paying 
some  social  visits  to  some  Friends  to  satisfaction. 

The  25th.  I,  this  day,  under  feelings  of  some  depression  of 
s]iirit,  traveled  to  Hitchin  ;  and  on  the  next  day  I  attended  the 
Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends  there,  where  I  met  with  an  interesting 
company  of  Friends,  among  whom  I  was  much  opened  in  the  testi- 
mony of  the  gospel,  to  mutual  edificatio'.i.  Praised  forever  be  the 
name  of  the  everlasting  God  I 

The  27th.  I  this  evening  held  a  i)retty  good  open  meeting  at 
Baldock  for  Friends  and  others,  where,  under  the  renewing  of  the 
good  spirit,  many  precious  souls  were  encouraged  in  the  way  of  life 
and  salvation;  and  on  the  next  day,  in  the  evening,  I  also  held  a 
similar  meeting  for  divine  worship  at  Ampthill,  where  the  people 
in  attendance  being  in  a  preparation  of  spirit  to  receive  the  truth  in 
the  love  of  it,  therefore  the  gospel  was  distilled  upon  them  as  the 
heavenly  dew,  to  the  edification  of  nniny  minds. 

Third  month  1st.  I  spent  this  day  at  Ilitchin  very  much  quietly 
in  resting  till  the  evening,  when  I  met  the  young  Friends  of  this 
town  in  a*  social  and  religious  way,  among  whom  I  had  a  very 
interesting  interview;  and  the  next  day  being  First-flay.  T  attended 
the  meeting  of  Friends  there  in  the  morning,  where,  through  the 
overshadowing  wing  of  ancient  goodness,  Friends  were  renewedly 
united  in  Christian  loA'e:  and  in  the  evening  I  held  a  public  meeting 


1851  JOUKNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT,  265 

there.  About  a  thousand  people  attended  this  meeting,  among 
whom  the  everlasting  gospel  was  preached  in  the  demonstration  of  the 
spirit  and  with  power.  The  glory  of  God  was  manifested  at  this 
meeting;  the  righteous  were  much  encouraged  in  the  way  of  life 
and  salvation,  and  sinners  were  solemnly  called  and  warned  to  flee 
betimes  from  the  wrath  to  come,  and  the  way  was  pointed  out  to 
them  for  repentance  and  eternal  salvation.  Praised  be  God  for- 
evermore. 

During  my  stay  at  this  place,  I  was  most  kindly  entertained  at 
the  house  of  my  dear  friend  Samuel  Allen.  He  and  his  dear  wife 
are  aged  Friends,  and  both  of  them  are  valuable  ministers  among 
us.  And  while  I  was  with  them,  I  was  instructed  by  their  sweet 
and  valuable  conversation  and  Christian  remarks. 

The  3d.  I  spent  this  day  mostly  in  resting,  writing,  and  paying 
some  social  and  religious  visits  to  some  dear  Friends  to  good  satis- 
faction; and  the  next  day  I  went  to  Hertford,  where,  on  the  5th,  I 
attended  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends,  and  found  a  small  but 
interesting  company  of  Friends  in  this  meeting,  among  whom, 
under  depression  of  mind,  I  was  favored  with  a  pretty  relieving 
testimony.  Praised  forever  be  the  name  of  the  Good  Shepherd  of 
Israel ! 

The  (Jth.  I  was  this  day  renewedly  l)rought  under  deep  exercise 
of  mind,  in  which  prayer  was  secretly  raised  in  me  for  the  renewing 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  from  day  to  day,  that  I  may  thereby  be  enabled  to 
go  forth  in  tlie  labor  of  the  gospel  to  the  glory  of  God.  I,  in  the 
evening,  held  a  good  and  o^Den  meeting  at  Ware,  where  many  pre- 
cious souls  were  impressively  visited,  and  called  in  the  love  of  the 
glorious  and  everlasting  gospel. 

The  7th.  My  mind  this  day  was  sweetly  opened  and  illuminated 
in  the  lights  of  truth,  and  led  into  a  profound  and  devout  medita- 
tion on  the  wondrous  works  of  God,  and  strong  was  my  desire  to 
please  him  in  all  my  goings  forth.  Praised  forevermore  be  his  great 
and  holy  name!  I,  in  the  evening,  held  a  glorious  and  heavenly 
meeting  at  Hoddesdon.  The  people  in  attendance  were  serious, 
and  I  thought  that  they  were  much  concerned  to  receive  the  whole 
truth  in  the  love  of  it ;  and  truly  it  appeared  to  me  that  the  power 
of  an  endless  life  eminently  prevailed  in  this  meeting,  under  the 
blessed  influence  of  which  many  hungry  and  thirsty  souls  received 
the  water  of  eternal  life,  to  edification,  and  sinners  were  warned  and 
called  to  repentance  and  amendment  of  life.  Praised  be  the  Lord 
forever  I 

The  8th.  I  rested  this  day  quietly  at  a  dear  and  kind  friend's 
house  at  Hertford,  and  the  next  day  being  First-day,  I  attended 
Friends'  Meeting  there  in  the  morning,  which  was  a  good  and  re- 
freshing season  ;  and  in  the  evening  I  held  a  i)ublic  meeting  there, 
which  was  largely  attended  by  people  of  dift'erent  persuasions  as  to 
religion,  among  whom  I  was  much  opened  in  the  love  of  the  ever- 
lasting gospel,  to  the  humility  and  edification  of  many  Friends. 


266  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKNETT.  iSoi 

The  10th.  I  this  evening  held  a  good  and  favored  meeting  for 
Friends  and  others  at  Hempstead,  which  Avas  well  attended  by  peo- 
ple of  much  sobriety  and  religious  feeling  ;  and  the  next  day  I 
went  to  Luton,  where,  on  the  12th,  I  attended  the  Monthly  Meeting 
of  Friends,  and  met  a  very  interesting  company  of  Friends,  among 
whom  I  was  opened  in  the  fresh  spring  of  the  gospel  of  life  and 
praise,  to  our  mutual  edification  and  help.  Praised  forever  be  the 
Good  Shepherd  of  Israel!  And  on  the  13th,  in  the  evening,  I  held 
a  large  and  very  interesting  public  meeting  for  the  citizens  of  this 
town,  in  the  town  hall.  The  jjeople  in  attendance  manifested  much 
Christian  feeling,  among  whom  divine  love  pervaded  as  a  canopy. 
The  windows  of  heaven  appeared  to  be  opened  unto  this  deeply  in- 
teresting company,  and  I  thought  that  every  soul  therein  was  visited 
in  the  love  of  the  everlasting  gospel.  Christians  of  various  denomi- 
nations were  renewedly  united  in  the  unity  of  the  spirit,  in  the 
bond  of  peace;  and  tlie  wicked  were  solemnly  warned  to  flee  be- 
times from  the  wrath  to  come,  and  to  accept  the  offer  of  divine 
mercy  in  the  love  of  it.  The  meeting  closed  with  prayer  and  sup- 
plication to  God. 

The  14th.  I  this  evening  held  a  large  and  crowded  meeting  at 
Hogsty-end,  where  I  met  with  many  precious  and  hungry  souls, 
who  were  thirsting  after  the  water  of  eternal  life;  and  through  di- 
vine mercy  they  were  directed  to  look  to  him  alone  in  faith  for  the 
water  of  salvation,  who  giveth  liberally  to  all  them  that  ask  of  him, 
and  who  upbraideth  not.  This  was  a  glorious  and  blessed  meeting, 
wherein  the  Avell-sjiring  of  the  water  of  life  was  mercifully  opened, 
to  the  refreshing  of  many  tender  and  baptized  souls. 

The  15th.  I  rested  this  day  quietly  at  a  dear  friend's  house  at 
Leighton.  Being  under  deep  exercise,  my  soul  cried  mightily  to 
the  everlasting  God, — recollecting  with  feelings  of  deep  humility 
the  many  sorrows  and  changes  that  have  come  upon  me  since  1 
turned  my  face  Zion-ward.  I  said  in  my  exercise,  "The  Lord  is 
my  light  and  my  salvation;"  "The  Lord  is  the  strength  of  my 
life;"  "hear "me,  "0  Lord,  when  I  cry  with  my  voice,  have 
mercy  also  upon  me  ;"  "hide  not  thy  face  far  from  me;  "  "leave 
me  not,  neither  forsake  me,  0  God  of  my  salvation  ;  "  "teach  me 
thy  way,  0  Lord,  and  lead  me  in  a  plain  path,"  and  preserve  and 
protect  me  on  every  hand,  through  all  to  the  end,  to  the  glory  of 
thy  worthy  name. 

The  IGth.  Being  First-day,  I  this  morning  attended  the  meeting 
of  Friends  at  Leighton,  where  I  met  a  small  but  interesting  com- 
pany of  Friends,  among  Avhom  I  had  much  refreshing  service,  to 
good  satisfaction  ;  and  in  the  evening  I  held  a  large  and  crowded 
meeting  for  the  citizens  of  this  town,  in  the  temperance  hall,  where 
the  everlasting  truth  eminently  reigned  over  all,  to  the  glory  of  the 
name  of  God. 

The  17th.     1  this  evening  held  a  large  and  very  interesting  meet- 


1851  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  267 

ing  at  Berkluimpstead,  where  I  met  a  company  of  people  wliose 
minds  were  prepared  to  receive  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it,  among 
whom  my  month  was  opened  and  my  heart  was  enlarged  in  gosjiel 
love,  to  the  edification  of  many  minds. 

The  18th.  I  this  day  a(jain  returned  to  Hertford,  and  on  the 
next  day  I  attended  the  service  of  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends 
held  there,  wherein  my  mind  was  eminently  opened  in  the  love  of 
the  everlasting  gospel,  in  which  Friends  were  brought  to  feel  near 
and  dear  one  to  another  in  the  unity  of  the  spirit,  in  the  bond  of 
peace.  This  was  a  good  and  precions  meeting.  Praised  be  the  Lord 
forevermore!  And  the  next  day  I  devoted  to  rest  and  quietness, 
my  health  being  poor.  I  was  brought  low  in  body  and  mind ;  Y 
cried  to  the  Lord  and  said,  "  Hide  not  thy  face  from  me  in  the  day 
when  I  am  in  trouble,  incline  thine  ear  unto  me  ;  "  in  the  day  when 
I  am  cast  down  in  spirit,  then  let  my  soul  rest  in  hope  and  confi- 
dence upon  thee. 

The  31st.  I  this  day  traveled  to  the  town  of  High- Wycombe, 
where,  in  the  evening,  I  held  a  large  and  crowded  meeting.  Those 
in  attendance  were  still  and  quiet,  and  under  the  preparation  of  the 
ever  blessed  truth.  Their  hearts  were  mercifully  opened  to  receive 
the  gospel  in  the  love  of  it,  which  was  preached  in  the  demonstra- 
tion of  the  spirit  and  with  power.  I  thought  that  every  state  in 
this  meeting  was  spoken  to  in  Christian  love.  The  meeting  closed 
with  prayer  and  supplication,  to  good  satisfaction;  and  the  next  day 
I  spent  at  a  friend^s  house  in  this  town,  in  writing  and  in  religious 
meditation. 

The  23rd,  being  First-day,  and  a  time  of  deep  exercise  and  medi- 
tation with  me.  I  this  day  had  a  meeting  at  Jordans.  About  five 
hundred  people  attended;  many  of  them  were  serious  and  sober,  and 
some  of  them  manifested  much  vanity  and  inattention  of  mind. 
The  testimony  of  truth,  however,  went  forth  to  the  glory  of  the 
name  of  God,  and  the  meeting  closed  with  prayer  and  supplication. 
After  the  meeting  was  over,  I  went  to  see  the  graveyard,  and  saw, 
as  I  was  informed,  with  feelings  of  deep  humility,  the  grave  of 
William  Penn,  his  two  wives  and  eight  of  his  children,  Isaac  Pen- 
ningtun  and  his  wife,  Thomas  Ell  wood  and  his  wife,  and  several 
others  of  the  most  worthy  of  our  Society.  This  graveyard  is  kept 
in  good  order  by  Friends.  Although  there  is  now  no  meeting  of 
Friends  regularly  held  there,  yet  Friends  are  careful  to  keep  this 
property  in  good  order;  the  graves  are  raised  so  as  to  be  seen  dis- 
tinctly. In  thus  visiting  the  sepulchres  of  these  worthy  servants  of 
God,  my  mind  was  raised  in  solemn  meditation  toward  the  house 
not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens,  where  those  worthies 
are,  without  doubt,  executing  the  will  of  him  who  shall  judge  the 
world  in  righteousness  in  the  great  and  general  day  of  judgment; 
when  at  his  final  appearing,  to  judge  both  quick  and  dead,  all  that 
are  in  the  graves  shall  hear  his  voice,  and  shall  come  forth;  they 


^68  JOUKXAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  1861 

that  liave  clone  good  unto  the  resurrection  of  life,  and  they  that 
have  done  evil  unto  the  resurrection  of  damnation.  I  was  this  day 
very  deeply  humbled  in  meditating  on  the  subject  of  the  great  doc- 
trine of  Christian  redemption,  and  strong  was  my  desire  that  I  may 
ever  be  favored  so  as  to  walk  while  in  this  world,  and  finally  to  at- 
tain unto  the  I'esurrection  of  the  just. 

The  :^4:th.  I  this  evening  held  a  large  and  crowded  meeting  at 
Chisham,  where  I  met  a  mixed  congregation  of  people,  among 
whom  the  testimony  of  truth  went  forth  in  a  powerful  and  glorious 
manner,  to  the  edification  of  the  righteous  and  the  warning  of  the 
wicked  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come:  and  the  next  day  I  traveled 
to  Kittering,  where,  on  the  2Gth,  I  attended  the  mid-week  meeting 
of  Friends  as  it  came  in  course,  which  was  a  small  but  a  good  and 
refreshing  season — ])raiscd  be  the  Lord  forever! — and  on  the  27th,  in 
the  evening,  I  held  a  public  meeting  in  this  town,  in  the  Independ- 
ent chapel.  About  a  thousand  people  attended,  among  whom  the 
great  doctrine  of  Christianity  was  opened  and  illustrated,  to  the 
humility  and  instruction  of  many  pious  and  precious  minds.  Every 
state  in  this  meeting  was  spoken  to  in  the  love  of  the  everlasting 
gospel,  and  the  meeting  solemnly  closed  with  prayer  and  suj^plica- 
tion. 

The  28th.  I  this  evening  held  a  full  and  crowded  meeting  for 
Friends  and  others  at  Timdon.  When  I  went  into  this  meeting  I 
felt  poor  and  cast  down  in  sj)irit;  but  in  settling  down  in  the  spirit 
of  my  mind,  and  looking  to  the  right  source  for  strength  and  wis- 
dom, truth  soon  arose  in  dominion,  so  that  we  had  a  good  and  pre- 
cious meeting.     Praised  be  the  Lord  forevermorel 

The  20th.  I  this  day  went  to  Northampton,  and  the  next  day 
being  First-day,  I  attended  Friends'  meeting  tliere  in  the  morning, 
which  was  a  good,  refreshing  season;  and  in  the  evening  I  held  a 
public  meetijig  there.  About  a  thousand  people  attended,  amoiig 
whom  the  spring  of  gospel  love  was  very  eminently  opened,  to  the 
deep  humility  and  thankfulness  of  many  precious  and  baptized 
souls.  The  sincere  were  much  encouraged  in  the  way  of  life  and 
salvation,  and  sinners  were  called  to  repentance;  and  on  the  31st  I 
rested  rpiietly  at  a  Friend's  house,  my  health  being  rather  poor. 

Fourth  mo.  1st.  I  was  this  day  brought  under  much  renewed 
baptism,  through  the  sanctifying  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  Avherein 
I  was  eiuibled  to  cry  out  in  the  spirit  of  my  mind  in  this  language: 
"I  die  daily,"  "always  bearing  about  in  the  body  the  dying  of  the 
Lord  Jesus,  that  the  life  also  of  Jesus  might  be  made  manifest  in" 
my  "body,''  knowing  that  those  who  live  unto  Jesus  Christ  "are 
always  delivered  unto  death  for  Jesus'  sake,  that  the  life  also  of 
Jesus  might  be  made  manifest  in"  their  "mortal  flesh," for  such  do 
"not  hencefurth  live  unto  themselves,  but  unto  him  which  died  for 
them  and  rose  again."  I  saw  aiul  felt  renewedly  the  vast  import- 
ance of  continual  watclifulness  unto  prayei".     The  language  of  my 


1851  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS   AKNETT.  ^GO' 

heart  was:  "  I  keep  under  my  body  and  bring  it  into  subjection, 
lest  that  by  any  means,  when  I  have  preached  to  others,  J  myself 
should  be  a  castaway."  I  saw  myself  as  having  nothing  to  de- 
pend on  for  eternal  salvation  but  the  free  mercy  of  God  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ;  but  I  was  encouraged  in  knowing 
that  he,  my  blessed  Saviour,  is  ''touched  with  the  feeling"  of  my 
"infirmities,"  wherefore  he  will  preserve  and  sustain  me  through 
all  to  the  end,  to  the  glory  of  his  worthy  name,  if  I  continue  to 
retain  my  sincerity  and  integrity  faithfully  while  in  this  world. 

I  this  evening  held  a  large  public  meeting  for  Friends  and  others 
at  Willingborough.  There  were  many  serious  minds  in  this  meet- 
ing, who  stood  open  to  the  conviction  of  the  truth  in  the  spirit  of 
their  minds,  and  there  were  others  also  present  who  quenched  the 
operation  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  The  testimony  of  the  everlasting 
gospel,  however,  went  forth  to  the  visitation  of  every  state  in  this 
meeting,  so  that  truth  in  a  good  degree  gained  the  victory.  Praised 
be  the  Lord  forevermore! 

The  2nd.  I  this  morning  held  a  precious  and  favored  meeting 
at  Bugbrook  for  Friends  and  others.  Those  in  attendance  were 
generally  sincere-hearted  people,  among  whom  the  encouraging  lan- 
guage went  forth  to  humility  and  edification,  even  the  language  of 
the  glorious  and  everlasting  gospel.  Praised  be  the  Lord  forever- 
more  ! 

The  3rd.  I  was  this  day  brought  under  deep  proving  of  spirit. 
My  soul  mourned  within  me;  I  felt  destitute  and  cast  down.  The 
language  of  my  heart  was:  "As  the  hart  panteth  after  the  water- 
brooks,  so  panteth  my  soul  after  thee,  0  God:  my  soul  thirsteth 
for  God,  for  the  living  God."  "My  tears  have"  oftentimes  "been 
my  meat  day  and  night."  "When  1  remember  these  things,  I  pour 
out  my  soul  in  me."  *'  Why  art  thou  cast  down,  0  my  soul?  and 
why  art  thou  disquieted  m  me?"  "  Hope  thou  in  God;  for  I  shall 
yet  praise  Him  for  the  help  of  His  countenance."  "0  my  God, 
my  soul  is  cast  down  within  me  :  therefore  will  I  remember  thee,'^ 
because  of  all  thy  mercies  granted  to  me.  "Deep  calleth  unto 
deep  at  the  noise  of  thy  waterspouts;  all  thy  waves  and  thy  billows 
are  gone  over  me;"  "yet  the  Lord  will  command  his  loving  kind- 
ness" to  me.  "Li  the  daytime  and  in  the  night  his  song  shall  be 
with  me,  and  my  prayer  unto  the  God  of  my  life." 

I  this  day  again  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at  Northamp- 
ton, wherein  I  sat  througliout  iti  suffering  silence,  and  on  the  next 
day  1  held  a  glorious  and  luminous  meeting  at  Eydon,  which  Avas 
largely  attended  by  many  serious-minded  people,  among  whom  I 
was  eminently  opened  in  the  unfoldings  of  the  boundless  love  of 
God.  All  appeared  to  be  hushed  down  in  quietness  and  stillness 
of  spirit,  and  the  name  of  God  was  exalted  above  alL  Glorified 
and  praised  for  ever  be  his  name,  for  he  is  worthy  ! 

The  5th,     I  this  day  rested  quietly  at  a  friend's  house,  and  dwelt 


•270  JOURXAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETl  1851 

mucli  alone  in  meditating  on  the  things  of  Groci ;  and  the  next  day, 
being  First-day,  I  attended  in  the  morning  the  meeting  of  Friends 
at  Kewportpagnell,  which  was  a  small  but  good  meeting,  and  in  the 
evening  I  held  a  public  meeting  in  this  town  in  the  British  School- 
room, so  called.  Many  came  to  this  meeting  and  could  not  be 
accommodated  and  went  away ;  and  this  is  often  the  case  in  this 
country  in  regard  to  my  public  meetings,  great  crowds  of  people 
flocking  out  to  them  and  cannot  be  accommodated  for  the  want  of 
room  and  going  away.  May  God  bless  all  such.  I  went  into  this 
school-room  under  great  weight  of  spirit,  and  found  several  hun- 
dred peojile  crowded  in  this  room,  among  whom  the  everlasting 
gospel  was  preached  with  that  authority  which  hushed  down  every 
soul  in  attendance  into  deep  humility.  Praised  eternally  be  the 
name  of  God  ! 

The  7th.  I  was  so  poorly  this  day  that  quiet  rest  at  a  friend's 
house  was  necessary  for  me,  and  on  the  next  day,  in  the  evening,  I 
held  a  public  meeting  at  Olney,  in  the  Independent  Chapel,  where 
I  met  a  large  and  interesting  congregation  of  people,  who  were  pos- 
sessed of  much  religious  intelligence,  among  whom  the  well-spring 
of  eternal  life  was  thrown  open  through  the  adorable  mercy  of  God, 
so  that  the  stream  of  everlasting  life,  it  appeared  to  me,  watered 
every  himgry  and  thirsty  soul  in  attendance,  and  sinners  were  most 
affectionately  called  and  warned  to  flee  betimes  from  the  wrath  to 
come,  and  to  lay  hold  on  the  refuge  of  salvation,  the  Good  Shepherd 
of  Israel,  and  trust  alone  in  his  holy  and  worthy  name.  This  meet- 
ing solemly  closed  with  prayer  to  God. 

The  9th.  I  spent  this  day  in  quiet  meditation,  reading,  and 
visiting  at  a  friend's  house,  and  on  the  next  day  I  attended  the 
Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends  at  Hogsty-end,  where  I  met  a  small 
but  interesting  company  of  Friends,  among  whom  the  sympathy 
of  the  gospel  in  the  life  thereof  was  manifested,  to  oicr  mutual 
edification. 

The  11th.  I  was  this  morning  brought  low  in  the  sjjirit  of  my 
mind  ;  all  within  me  was  broken  down  in  tenderness.  I  suppli- 
cated for  divine  mercy  and  strength.  I  felt  jDoor  and  needy,  and 
saw  rcnewedli/  that  I  had  none  to  depend  upon  but  the  good  and 
merciful  Shepherd  of  Israel.  In  the  evening  I  held  a  public  meet- 
ing at  Bedford,  in  the  *Bun3-an  meeting  house,  so  called.  Upward 
of  a  thousand  people  attended  this  meeting,  who  possessed  mucJi 
intelligence  generalh/,  both  natural  and  religious.  Christian  solem- 
nity deeply  pervaded  this  very  interesting  congregation,  under  the 
blessed  influence  of  which  all  was  hushed  down  into  the  most  ])ro- 
found  stillness  and  quietness.  This  was  a  most  delightful  and 
solemn  meeting,  wherein  I  was  called  upon  largely  to  illustrate  the 

Note.— This  Bunyau  Meeting  House,  as  I  was  informed,  stands  on  the  very  spot  of 
ground  of  the  chapel  tliat  the  n<)to<l  .lohn  Bunyan  oicupied  in  }iis  lifetime.  I  also,  while 
here,  sat  on  the  chair  that  lie  commonly  used  when  living,  which  is  kept  for  antiquity. 


t85i  JOUKNAL   OF   THOMAS   AKNETT.  271 

merciful  economy  of  the  great  leading  doctrines  of  Christian  re- 
demption, according  to  the  Holy  Scriptures.  Many  precious  and 
baptized  souls  in  this  meeting  were  brought  to  feel  near  and  dear 
one  to  another,  in  the  unity  of  the  spirit,  in  the  bond  of  peace.  It 
appeared  to  me  that  the  windows  of  heaven  were  opened  ujion  us 
in  this  meeting,  which  very  solemnly  closed  with  prayer  and  sup- 
plication to  God. 

The  13th.  I  this  day  went  to  Buckingham,  and  the  next  day, 
being  First-day,  I  in  the  morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends 
there,  which  was  a  very  small  but  a  good,  refreshing  season  to 
our  souls.  In  the  afternoon,  at  3  o'clock,  I  held  a  public  meeting 
in  this  town,  in  the  town  hall.  Upward  of  a  thousand  people  at- 
tended this  meeting,  who  were  orderly  in  their  behavior,  among 
whom  the  treasures  of  the  Christian  religion  were  mercifully  and 
fully  thrown  ojoen,  and  the  stream  of  gospel  love  appeared  to  reach 
every  heart  in  attendance.  The  way  of  life  and  salvation  was 
pointed  out  according  to  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  many  were 
broken  down  in  tenderness  and  tears  ;  and  the  meeting  solemnly 
closed  with  prayer  and  supplication  to  God.  Praised  forever  be  his 
holy  name  ! 

The  14th.  I  this  day  went  to  Witney,  where,  this  evening  and 
the  following  day,  I  attended  the  service  of  the  Quarterly  Meeting 
of  Friends  held  there,  which  was  a  season  lo)i(j  to  be  remembered. 
The  everlasting  God,  through  his  spirit,  was  mercifully  with  us, 
and  rcneioedly  united  us  together  in  the  unity  of  the  spirit,  in  the 
bond  of  peace.  Our  souls  were  much  refreshed  in  this  meeting, 
and  true  and  acceptable  worship  was  performed  through  the  blessed 
mediation  of  the  great  and  merciful  ministry  of  the  sanctuary  and 
of  the  true  tabernacle,  which  the  Lord  pitched  and  not  man.  The 
solitary  and  the  discouraged  in  this  meeting  were  mercifully  visited 
and  lifted  up  in  the  anticipation  of  the  hope  of  the  everlasting  gos- 
pel. This  meeting  closed  with  renewed  gratitude  to  God  and  love 
unfeigned  to  each  other. 

The  loth.  I  spent  this  day  quietly  at  a  friend's  house,  under 
deep  exercise  of  mind.  All  within  me  "was  brought  low  and  hum- 
bled as  in  the  dust.  I  said  in  my  spirit,  "  Whom  have  I  to  depend 
upon  but  thee,  0,  my  God  !  Thy  holy  hand  is  heavy  upon  me, 
preparing  me  for  renewed  service  in  thy  church.  I  sat  alone,  be- 
cause of  thy  hand  ;  for  though  hast  filled  me  with  indignition,  so 
that  my  spirit  mourns  within  me,  because  of  the  short-coming,  in 
many  instances,  of  those  who  profess  to  be  thy  people.  0  !  enable 
me,  Holy  One,  through  thy  grace,  faithfully  to  discharge  my  duty 
in  all  re^)ects  while  in  this  tribulated  world." 

The  17th,  I  this  day  went  to  Berkhampstead,  where,  this  evening 
and  on  the  next  day,  I  attended  the  service  of  the  Quarterly  Meet- 
ing of  Friends  held  there.  This  was  a  season  of  very  deep  exercise 
with  me,     I  secretly  poured  out  my  soul  in  prayer  to  God  for  his 


272  JOUKNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  1861 

all-supporting  power,  which  was  mercifully  vouchsafed  in  this  Quar- 
terly Meeting  for  worsliip.  The  ]iower  of  an  endless  life  reigned 
over  all,  and  my  spirit  was  sweetly  united  with  many  poor,  hungry, 
baptized,  precious  and  discouraged  souls  in  attendance.  This  was 
a  time  long  to  be  remembered  by  many  for  good.  Blessed  be  the 
Lord  ! 

The  19th.  I  this  day  went  to  London,  and  the  next  day,  being 
First-day,  I  in  the  morning  attended  Friends'  Meeting  at  Stoke- 
Newington,  and  in  the  evening  at  Westminster  ;  both  of  which 
meetings  were  times  of  refreshment  to  many  precious  and  weary 
souls  ;  and  the  next  day  I  spent  quietly  at  a  friend's  house,  in 
writing,  reading  and  in  meditation;  and  on  the  22d  I  went  to 
Maidstone,  where,  on  the  next  day  I  attended  the  mid-week  meet- 
ing of  Friends,  which  was  a  small  but  good  meeting ;  and  on  the 
24th  T  held  a  public  meeting  in  this  town,  in  the  Corn  Exchange, 
which  was  well  attended  by  people  of  various  persuasions  as  to  re- 
ligious sentiments,  among  whom  the  testimony  of  the  everlasting- 
gospel  went  forth,  to  the  humility  and  edification  of  many  precious 
souls.  The  good  spirit  was  with  us  on  this  occasion,  whereby  I 
was  enabled  to  labor  to  the  peace  of  my  own  mind  and  to  the  satis- 
faction of  the  people.     Blessed  be  God  forevermore  ! 

The  25th.  I  this  evening  held  a  public  meeting  for  Friends  and 
others  at  Ashford.  The  people  were  still  and  quiet,  and  appeared 
to  receive  the  word  of  the  gospel  delivered  among  them  to  benefit 
and  to  edification.  This  meeting  was  well  attended,  and  ended 
with  thankful  hearts. 

The  26th.  I  this  day  went  to  Dover,  and  the  next  day,  being 
First-day,  I  attended  Friends'  meeting  there  in  the  morning,  which 
was  small,  but,  through  the  overshadowing  of  the  ancient  wing  of 
goodness,  Avas  made  a  precious  and  refreshing  season.  Li  the 
evening  I  held  a  public  meeting  in  this  town,  which  was  well  at- 
tended by  serious-minded  people  fjcneraUy,  among  whom  the  waters 
of  eternal  life  went  forth,  to  the  refreshing  of  many  precious,  hun- 
gry and  thirsty  souls.  The  name  of  God  was  much  exalted  in  this 
meeting,  and  every  state  was  s])oken  to  in  the  authority  of  the 
blessed  truth.  The  meeting  ended  to  good  satisfaction  with  prayer 
and  sui)plication. 

The  28th.  I  this  evening  held  a  meeting  at  Folkstone  for  Friends 
and  others,  which  was  well  attended,  wherein  the  power  of  an  end- 
less life  prevailed,  to  the  deep  humility  of  many  souls.  Magnified 
forever  be  the  name  of  the  everlasting  God!  And  during  the  two 
following  days  I  traveled  leisurely  to  Southampton,  my  health  being 
poor  and  feeling  much  cast  down  in  spirit,  but  I  was  in  a^ood  de- 
gree i)rescrved  in  Christian  patience  and  resignation  to  the  divine 
will. 

5th  month,  first.  I  was  this  morning  under  very  deep  exercise  of 
mind.     I   was  murk  humbled  "under  the  mighty  hand  of  God," 


1851  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  -273 

and  strong  was  my  prayer  to  him  ''that  he"  miglit  exalt  me  in  his 
truth  "in  due  time."  I  cast  "all"  my  "care  upon  him/'  and  he 
mercifully  cared  for  me  this  day.  I  felt  as  a  stranger  in  a  strange 
land.  There  were  none  before  me  in  this  world  to  whom  I  could 
unbosom  the  sorrows  of  my  heart.  I  poured  out  my  complaint  he- 
fore  him  who  had  sent  mo  forth  in  his  name  on  thiK  gospel  mission, 
and  he  heard  me  tltis  day,  and  gave  me  strength  and  wisdom,  to  the 
glory  of  his  great  and  worthy  name. 

I  this  drty  attended  the  service  of  the  general  meeting  of  Friends, 
so  called,  held  at  Southampton,  wherein  the  everlasting  truth  arose  in 
dominion.  Many  precious  and  baptized  souls  were  humbled  as  in 
dust  and  ashes,  and  Friends  were  7-enewedly  hrou^xt  to  feel  near  and 
dear  one  to  another  in  that  true  love  which  casteth  out  fear.  Praised 
forever  be  the  name  of  the  Lord !  And  the  next  day  I  spent  in  sweet 
meditation  on  various  subjects,  and  in  paying  some  social  visits 
to  some  dear  friends,  to  good  satisfation. 

The  3rd.  I  this  day  went  to  the  city  of  Canterbury,  and  the  next 
day  being  First-day,  I  attended  in  the  morning  Friends'  meeting 
there,  which  was  very  small,  but  through  divine  mercy  was  made  a 
good  and  refreshing  season  to  some  precious  souls.  In  the  evening 
I  held  a  public  meeting  in  this  city,  which  was  well  attended  by  re- 
spectable, serious  people,  among  whom  the  gospel  message  went 
forth,  to  the  glory  of  the  great  and  worthy  head  of  the  church. 

The  5th.  I  spent  this  day  at  a  friend's  house,  in  writing  and  in 
meditation  :  and  on  the  next  day,  in  the  evening,  I  held  a  public 
meeting  at  Margate,  in  the  Baptist  chapel.  Those  in  attendance 
were  ^e?zfr«//?/ serious  and  religious  people,  among  whom  the  uniting 
testimony  of  truth  went  forth,  to  the  deep  humility  and  refreshing- 
edification  of  many  sincere,  precious  and  baptized  souls.  The  meet- 
ing solemnly  closed  with  prayer  and  supj)lication  to  God  for  all 
his  sure  mercies. 

The  7th.  I  spent  this  day  in  writing,  in  meditation,  and  in  vis- 
iting some  families  of  Friends;  and  on  the  next  day,  in  the  evening, 
I  held  a  painful  and  trying  meeting  at  Sittingbourne,  in  the  Wes- 
leyan  school-room.  About  fifty  people  attended  this  meeting,  who 
came  together  generally  not  in  a  disposition  of  mind  to  receive  the 
truth  in  the  love  of  it.  My  spirit  monnied  in  this  place,  and  with 
sorrow  of  heart  I  delivered  a  short  testimony  on  the  subject  of 
divine  worship,  and  closed  the  meeting  with  a  heavy  and  mourn- 
ful heart. 

The  9th.  I  this  day  went  to  the  city  of  Rochester,  where  I 
found  a  number  of  valuable,  kind  sympathetic  Friends,  who  mani- 
fested much  tender  and  Christian  sympathy  for  me,  among  whom  I 
spent  the  next  day  in  a  social  and  pleasant  manner. 

The  11th.  Being  First-day,  and  a  time  of  very  deep  exercise 
with  me,  all  within  me  was  humbled  as  in  dust  and  ashes.  I  cried 
for  the  renewal  of  divine  mercy  and  support,  which  at  length  in  de- 


^4 


JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AIINETT. 


grec  being  granted,  I  was  thereby  enabled  to  pass  through  the  labor 
of  the  day  to  satisfaction,  I  this  morning  attended  the  meeting  of 
Friends  in  the  city  of  Rochester,  and  in  the  evening  I  held  a  large 
public  meeting  there,  wherein  the  good  spirit  was  with  me,  and 
granted  me  strength  and  utterance,  to  the  edification  of  many 
precious  souls. 

After  this,  during  the  course  o^'^this  week,  I  was  brought  very 
low  in  soul,  spirit  and  body,  my  health  being  poor,  so  that  it  became 
necessary  for  me  to  rest  aivhile  in  quietness  and  stillness.  I  Avas 
brought  under  deep  ''chastening"  and  "rebuke,"  "for  whom  the  Lord 
lovetli  he  chasteueth,  and  scourgeth  every  son  whom  he  receiveth." 
"Day  and  night  his  hand  was  heavy  upon  me,"  and  I  said  in  my 
spirit,  "Thy  rod  and  thy  staff  they  comfort  me,"  "for  thou  hast 
lifted  me  up  and  cast  me  down."'  Thou  has  dealt  mercifully  and 
wonderfully  with  me  throughout  all  my  life,  0  my  God!  I  renew- 
edly  felt  with  feelings  of  the  deepest  humility  the  awful  responsi- 
bility resting  upon  me  in  the  prosecution  of  the  mission  of  the 
glorious  and  everlasting  gospel, — knowing  that  in  going  forth  in 
this  weighty  concern  that  I  am  "made  a  spectacle  unto  the  world, 
and  to  angels,  and  to  men,"  and  feeling  renewedly  my  infirmity 
under  the  weight  of  this  mission,  and  seeing  in  the  light  of  truth 
the  many  temptations  of  various  kinds  surrounding  me  in  this 
world,  I  could  but  have  in  some  degree  "a  desire  to  depart  and  to 
be  with  Christ,"  "for  to  me  to  live  is  Christ,  and  to  die  is  gain;" 
''nevertheless  to  abide  in  the  flesh,"  so  long  as  it  shall  please  God, 
"is  more  needful"  for  me  and  for  tlie  Church,  and  strong  and  earn- 
est was  my  prayer  to  him  that  his  holy  will  concerning  me  in  all 
things  may  ever  be  done,  to  the  glory  of  his  luime. 

I  know  that  God  hath  chosen  me  for  his  own  work,  so  far  as  he 
opens  the  way  for  me,  and  he  hath,  according  to  his  mercy  and  judg- 
ment, permitted  many  deep  and  sore  trials  of  various  kinds  to  come 
upon  me  for  my  good  and  sanctification;  so  that  it  seems  to  me  often- 
times that  I  may  in  some  small  degree,  with  great  fear  and  tremb- 
ling, adapt  this  language  in  my  experience,  that  "Lest  I  should 
be  exalted  above  measure  through  the  abundance  of  the  revela- 
tions, there  was  given  to  me  a  thorn  in  the  flesh — the  messenger 
of  Satan  to  buffet  me,  lest  I  should  be  exalted  above  measure," 
for  again  and  again  Satan  hath  assailed  me  with  his  temptations, 
both  within  and  without;  and  even  during  this  low  time  with  me 
he  rcneivedly  exerted  himself  with  his  fiery  darts  to  overthrow  me; 
but  I  cried  mightily  day  and  night  to  him  who  is  "touched  with 
the  feeling  of"  my  "infirmities,"  and  who  "was  in  all  i>oints 
tempted  like  as  "  his  faithful  followers  are,  "yet  without  sin,"  and 
he  at  length  in  his  own  time  mercifully  heard  me,  "and  he 
said  unto  me,"  "  My  grace  is  sufiicient  for  thee,  for  my  strength  is 
made  perfect  in  weakness;  most  gladly  therefore  will  I  rather  glory 
in  my  infirmities,  that  the  power  of  Christ  may  rest  upon  me ;  " 


1851  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARXETT.  275 

therefore  let  me  watch   and  pray  both  day  and  night,   "that"  I 
""may  adorn  the  doctrine  of  God,  my  Saviour,  in  all  things." 

The  13th.  Being  First-day,  I  this  day  attended  meeting  with 
Friends  in  the  morning  and  in  the  evening  at  Devonshire  meeting- 
house in  London,  where,  on  the  next  day,  commenced  the  YearlV 
Meeting  of  Friends,  which  was  held  by  adjournments  after  this 
through  the  course  of  this  niontn,  closing  its  session  on  the  last  day 
thereof,  with  feelings  of  gratitude  to  the  Good  Shepherd  of  Israel 
for  all  his  mercies,  and  with  that  true  love,  one  toward  another, 
which  unites  the  faithful  followers  of  Christ  in  the  unity  of  the 
spirit,  in  the  bond  of  peace. 

During  the  forepart  of  this  Yearly  Meeting  it  was  rather  a  low 
time  Avith  Friends,  but  as  we  progressed  in  the  prosecution  of  the 
■concerns  of  the  church,  truth  gradually  arose  with  us  at  length 
in  a  good  degree  into  dominion,  so  that  upon  the  whole  this  was  a 
good  and  refreshing  Yearly  Meeting  to  many  dear  and  worthy 
Friends. 

There  were  many  subjects  of  importance  and  interest  brought  ujd 
before  this  Yearly  Meeting  for  consideration  and  disposal,  in  the 
free  discussion  of  which  Friends  manifested  Christian  patience, 
calmness  and  dispassion,  and  were  favored  on  all  occasions  to  come 
to  satisfactory,  and,  I  believe,  to  right  conclusions,  so  that  the  cause 
of  truth  and  righteousness  was,  I  thought,  a  little  exalted  among  us. 

Our  dear  Friends,  John  Meader  and  Elizabeth  Meader,  his  wife, 
from  America,  very  acceptably  attended  the  service  of  this  Yearly 
Meeting.  They  are  valuable  ministers  among  Friends  of  New 
England  Yearly  Meetings  and  being  noio  in  this  country  on  a 
gospel  mission,  and  we  meeting  together  in  this  Yearly  Meeting 
with  feelings  of  Christian  love,  we  passed  through  the  service  thereof 
with  tender  sympathy  for  and  with  each  other,  in  the  unity  of  the 
spirit  in  the  bond  of  peace. 

I  passed  through  this  Yearly  Meeting  with  much  suffering,  being 
rather  a  low  time  with  me.  I,  however,  occasionally  had  some  good 
and  relieving  service  in  the  work  of  the  ministry. 

While  attending  this  Yearly  Meeting  my  prayer  was  to  the 
Father  of  Light  for  his  mercy  and  protection  on  every  hand,  and 
my  cry  was:  0,  thou  who  rulest  in  heaven  and  among  the  children 
•of  men,  who  hast,  in  great  mercy,  been  with  me  hitherto,  and  sup- 
ported my  mind  under  all  my  trials,  enable  me  increasingly  to  love 
thee,  and  to  serve  thee  faithfully  in  my  generation;  be  pleased  to  be 
with  me  all  the  remaining  days  of  my  pilgrimage  here,  and  let 
nothing  turn  me  out  of  the  way  of  thy  path,  cast  up  in  thy  wisdom 
for  me  to  walk  in,  and  so  purify  my  spirit  that  it  may  become  fitted 
for  the  enjoyment  of  thy  glorious  and  holy  presence,  in  the  house 
not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens.  "  Hear  my  j)rayer,  0 
Lord,  and  let  my  cry  come  unto  thee;"  "  my  soul  cleavetli  unto  the 
dust,  quicken  thou  me  according  to  thy  word.     I  have  declared" 


276  JOUKXAL   OF   THOMAS    ARSTETT.  1851 

thy  word  among  the  people,  "and  thou  heardest  me;  teach  me 
thy  statutes:  make  me  to  understand  the  way  of  thy  precepts,  so 
shall  I  talk  of  tliy  wondrous  works  "  before  my  fellow-beings.  "  My 
soul  melteth  for  heaviness,  strengthen  thou  me  according  unto  thy 
word.''  "Remove  from  me"  vanity,  and  lead  me  in  the  way  of 
truth  and  righteousness,  "  and  grant  me  thy  law  graciously."  "I 
have  chosen  the  way  of  truth,  thy  judgments  h;ive  I  laid  before  me. 
I  have  stuck  unto  thy  testimonies  ;  0  Lord,  put  me  not  to  shame:" 
"give  me  understanding,  and  I  shall  keep  thy  law;  yea,  I  shall 
observe  it  with  my  whole  heart,"  and  be  enabled  through  thy  word 
to  comfort  the  mourners  in  Zion,  and  to  call  sinners  to  repentance; 
"Turn  away  mine  eyes  from  beholding  vanity,  and  quicken  thou 
me  in  thy  way;"  "let  thy  mercies  come  also  unto  me,  0  Lord,  even 
thy  salvation,  according  to  thy  word."  "I  am  a  companion  of  all 
them  that  fear  thee,  and  of  them  that  keep  thy  precepts."  "Let 
those  that  fear  thee  turn  unto  me,  and  those  that  have  known  thy 
testimonies,"  that  my  arms  may  be  borne  up  in  the  day  of  battle, 
and  that  the  enemy  may  never  be  permitted  to  prevail  against  me, 
for  I  am  poor  and  needy.  0,  keep  and  preserve  me  on  every  hand 
througli  all  to  the  end,  and  save  me  eternally  in  thy  kingdom !  All 
the  praise  is  thine  forever. 

Gth  month,  first.  Being  First-day,  I  this  morning  and  evening 
again  attended  meeting  with  Friends  at  Devonshire  House,  and  was 
much  favored  with  them  in  the  renewed  flow  of  gospel  ministry  and 
with  prayer,  to  very  good  satisfaction. 

After  this,  through  the  course  of  this  week,  I  spent  rather  under 
medical  attention,  my  health  being  poor.  I  however  occasionally 
attended  to  writing,  and  taking  suitable  bodily  exercise  for  the  ben- 
efit of  my  health.  My  mind  during  this  time  was  under  weighty 
religious  exercise. 

The  8th.  Being  First-day,  and  a  time  to  be  remembered  by 
many.  I  this  morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at 
Brighton,  where  I  met  with  a  goodly  number  of  kind,  sympathizing 
Friends,  among  whom  I  was  refreshed  with  the  flow  of  the  ministry 
of  the  everlasting  gospel. 

In  the  evening  1  held  a  public  meeting  there,  which  was  largely 
attended  by  serious-minded  peo])le,  among  whom  the  fresh  spring  of 
gospel  love  was  opened,  to  the  deep  humility  and  mutual  edification 
of  many  minds.  The  meeting  solemnly  closed  with  prayer  to  God 
for  all  his  sure  mercies  and  blessings. 

The  9th.  I  this  evening,  after  having  a  religious  opportunity 
with  the  few  Friends  at  Chichester,  to  satisfaction,  held  a  public 
meeting  there,  which  was  small,  and  in  the  forepart  trying,  but 
truth  at  length  arose  in  a  pretty  good  degree  into  dominion,  so  that 
the  meeting  ended  to  good  satisfaction.  Praised  forever  be  the 
Lord! 

The  10th.     I  this  evening  held  a  public  meeting  at  Lewes,  and 


1851  JOUENAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  277 

on  the  next  day  attended  the  mid-week  meeting  of  Friends  there, 
as  it  came  in  course ;  and,  upon  the  whole,  I  had  a  pleasant  visit 
among  Friends  and  others  in  this  place,  botli  the  public  meeting 
and  that  of  Friends  being  very  favored  opportunities,  so  that  many 
precious  and  sincere  souls  were  much  encouraged  and  ediiied. 

The  12th.  I  this  day  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at  Hors- 
ham, as  it  came  in  course,  which  was  a  small  meeting,  wherein  I 
oould  but  mourn  over  a  lukcAvarm  spirit  winch  prevailed  to  some 
extent  among  the  few  Friends  of  this  little  meeting.  I  however  had 
a  word  of  exhortation  for  them,  tending  to  encourage  them  to  more 
renewed  dedication  of  heart,  that  purer  religion  may  find  more  place 
among  them. 

The  13th.  I  this  evening  held  a  good  open  and  precious  meeting 
at  Ifield,  which  was  well  attended  by  sincere  and  honest-hearted  peo- 
ple, among  whom  I  was  much  set  at  liberty  in  the  love  of  the  ever- 
Tasting  gospel,  to  the  deep  humility  of  many  precious,  baptized  souls. 
Pi-aised  forever  be  the  name  of  the  Lord! 

The  14th.  I  this  day  went  to  Reigate,  and  the  7iext  day  being 
First-day.  I  in  the  morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  there, 
and  also  held  there  in  the  evening  a  public  meeting,  which  was  well 
attended  by  serious-minded  people,  who  were  very  still  and  quiet, 
and  humbly  received  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it.  This  was  with  me 
a  day  of  much  favor.  The  good  spirit  was  with  me,  and  granted 
me  strength  and  utterance,  to  the  j^eace  of  my  own  mind  and  to  the 
satisfaction  of  Friends  and  others.  All  the  praise  alo7ie  is  due  to 
him  who  puts  down  the  mighty  and  exalts  them  of  low  degree. 

The  16th.  A  day  of  much  proving  to  me,  being  a  low  time  with 
me,  and  a  season  wherein  I  had  to  mourn  over  the  existence  of  a 
lukewarm  spirit  among  some  of  our  members.  I  this  morning  held 
a  meeting  for  the  few  Friends  of  Godalming,  where  I  found  the  life 
of  pure  religion  to  be  very  low.  I  however  had  a  little  word  of 
exhortation  for  them,  tending  to  stir  them  up  to  more  faithful- 
ness in  the  blessed  truth.  In  the  evening  I  held  a  public  meeting 
at  Guildford,  which  was  small,  and  in  some  degree  a  trying  season. 
Truth,  however,  at  length  granted  a  little  strength  and  utterance, 
I  hope  to  some  benefit  to  a  few  sincere  individuals. 

The  17th.  I  this  evening  held  a  good  and  very  precious  meeting 
at  Dorking  for  Friends  and  others,  which  was  well  attended  by  re- 
ligious-minded people,  among  whom  the  spring  of  the  everlasting 
gospel  was  eminently  opened,  to  the  thankfulness  and  edification  of 
many  precious,  sincere  and  baptized  souls. 

The  18th.  I  this  day  attended  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends 
a,t  Capel.  where  I  found  a  number  of  well-concerned  and  sincere- 
hearted  Friends,  among  whom  I  was  much  refreshed  under  the  re- 
newed putting  forth  of  the  everlasting  truth.  Friends  in  this  meet- 
ing were  ^brought  to  feel  near  and  dear  one  to  another,  in-  the  unity 
of  the  spirit,  in  the  bond  of  peace ;  and  on  the  next  day  in  the 


278  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AHNETT.  18-5I 

evening  I  held  there  a  public  meeting,  which,  although  it  was  small^ 
yet  being  attended  by  sincere  and  serious-minded  people,  we  were 
mercifully  remembered  by  the  Good  She])herd  of  Israel. 

The  20th.  I  spent  this  day  very  much  in  religious  retirement, 
in  writing,  in  meditation,  and  in  visiting  some  dear  friends,  feeling 
renewedly  very  desirous  for  a  growth  in  the  knowledge  of  the  glori- 
ous and  everlasting  truth. 

The  21st.  A  day  of  much  religious  retirement,  meditation  and 
secret  prayer  with  me.  My  spirit  cried  earnestly  to  the  everlasting^ 
God  for  his  mercy,  preservation,  counsel  and  protection,  knowing 
that  vain  is  the  help  of  man.  0,  how  I  desired  not  to  be  turned 
out  of  the  rigid  way,  on  no  occasion,  in  the  prosecution  of  the  mis- 
sion of  the  everlasting  gospel, — neither  on  the  rigid  hand  nor  on  the 
left  hand.  All  within  me  was  humbled  under  the  operation  of 
divine  grace,  in  which  I  saw  renewedly  the  necessity  of  increased 
watchfulness  unto  prayer  for  my  preservation  on  every  hand,  so  as 
to  go  forth  promoting  the  cause  of  truth. 

I  this  day  traveled  on  railroad  conveyance  upwards  of  two  hun- 
dred miles  to  the  city  of  Exeter;  and  the  next  day  being  First-day, 
I  attended  Friends'  iiieeting  there  in  the  morning,  where  I  met  a 
number  of  interesting  and  intelligent  Friends,  among  whom  I  was 
much  opened  in  gospel  love.  In  the  evening  I  held  a  public  "meet- 
ing for  the  citizens  of  this  city,  which  was  well  attended  by  respect- 
able, serious-minded  people,  among  whom  my  mind  was  much 
opened  in  the  illustration  of  the  great  doctrine  of  Christian  redemp- 
tion, to  the  deep  humility,  comfort  and  edification  of  many  pious 
and  sincere  souls.  Truth  eminenthj  reigned  over  all  in  this  meeting, 
in  which  sinners  were  warned  betimes,  under  divine  mercy,  to  flee 
from  the  wrath  to  come. 

The  23rd.  I  this  day  went  to  Plymouth,  and  on  the  next  day  I 
attended  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends  there,  and  was  favored 
with  a  short  and  refreshing  testimony,  to  good  satisfactipn;  and  on 
the  25th  I  attended  the  service  of  the  Quarterly  ]\[eeting  of  Friends 
held  in  this  town.  This  was  a  day  of  very  deep  exercise  with  me. 
All  within  me  was  humbled  under  the  spirit  of  pra3'er  and  suppli- 
cation to  the  Good  Shepherd  of  Israel.  I  was  borne  down  in  spirit 
under  deep  and  weighty  concern.  My  spirit  mourned  and  wanted 
vent,  which  was  mercifully  granted  this  day  in  this  Quarterly  Meet- 
ing, wherein  I  was  Dmcli  set  at  liberty  in  the  love  of  tlie  glorious 
gospel.  Truth  reigned  over  all  in  this  meeting,  and  ended  with 
thanksgiving  and  praise  to  the  Lord  for  all  his  mercies. 

The  2'Jtb.  I  this  evening  held  a  good  and  open  meeting  for 
Friends  and  others  at  Tavistock;  and  on  the  next  day  in  the  even- 
ing I  held  a  j^ublic  meeting  at  Plymouth,  wliich,  though  it  was  not 
large,  yet  it  was  much  owned  by  the  everlasting  truth,  wherein  the 
gos])el  was  preached,  to  humility  and  edification. 

Tiie  28th.     I  this  day  had  a  pleasant  ride  in  an   open  coach  to 


1851  JOUEXAL   OF   THOMAS    ARXETT,  27& 

Liskeard,  where,  on  the  next  day,  being  First-day,  I  attended  the 
morning  and  evening  meeting  of  Friends,  the  latter  of  which  was 
largely  attended  by  those  who  are  not  in  membership  with  ns.  The 
Lord  was  mercifully  with  me  this  day,  and  opened  and  illuminated 
my  understanding,  so  as  to  enable  me  to  stand  forth  in  the  defense 
of  his  good  cause,  to  the  glory  of  his  worthy  name,  and  to  the  com- 
fort and  edification  of  many  sincere,  precious  and  baptized  souls. 
Praised  be  his  worthy  name  now  and  forever! 

The  30th.  I  devoted  this  day  to  retirement  of  spirit,  to  writing, 
to  meditation,  to  reading,  and  in  some  degree  to  an  examination  of 
ray  past  life, — being  my  birth-day, — having  noic  passed  through  sixty 
years  in  this  tribulated  world,  and  having  in  my  pilgrimage  life  up 
to  this  day  met  with  many  sorrows,  oftentimes  connected  with  deep 
and  sore  troubles  and  besetments  of  various  kinds.  In  retrospect- 
ing  my  past  life,  all  within  me  was  deeply  humbled  under  a  renewed 
sense  of  the  mercy,  condescension  and  loving  kindness  of  the  ever- 
lasting God,  vouchsafed  to  me  all  my  life  long  through  the  blessed 
mediation  of  his  well  beloved  Son,  and  through  the  opening  and 
drawing  of  his  good  sj)irit;  and  strong  and  earnest  was  my  prayer 
to  him  this  day  that  he  may  continue  to  preserve  and  to  protect  me 
on  every  hand,  to  the  end  that  he  may  more  and  more  sanctify  me, 
and  fit  me  for  service  in  his  church  ;  and  when  my  work  is  done  in 
this  world,  consistent  with  his  will,  that  he  may  mercifully  then 
receive  me  into  the  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the 
heavens.  I  this  day,  in  recounting  the  mercies  and  the  blessings  of 
the  Good  Shepherd  of  Israel  unto  me,  could  but  acknowledge  before 
him  in  this  language:  "I  have  been  young  and  now  am  old,  yet 
have  I  not  seen  the  righteous  forsaken,  nor  his  seed  begging  bread." 
The  Lord  has  ever  been  very  merciful  to  me,  from  my  youth  up  to 
this  day.  He  has  oftentimes  delivered  me  and  made  way  for  me, 
where,  according  to  the  wisdom  of  man,  no  WQ,^could  be  seen.  I 
beseech  thee,  0  Lord,  everlasting  God,  more  and  more  to  cause  all 
things  to  work  together  for  my  good,  for  thou  knowest  that  I  love 
thee  above  all  things,  and  am  devoted  through  thy  mercy  to  thy 
good  cause.  Thy  will  in  all  things,  and  not  mine,  be  done. 
Amen. 

7th  month,  first.  I  awoke  this  morning  with  feelings  of  grati- 
tude to  the  Lord  for  all  his  mercy  manifested  to  me  throughout  all 
my  life  up  to  this  time,  with  sincere  desire  to  him  for  the  continu- 
ance of  his  protection  to  me  while  I  am  in  this  tribulated  state, 
and  my  cry  to  him  was  that  I  may  in  his  own  time  be  received  into 
his  glorious  and  everlasting  kingdom,  where  sorrow  and  trouble  can 
never  come,  but  where  all  is  peace  forevermore.  I  this  day  attended 
the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends  at  Liskeard,  where  I  was  favored 
with  a  short  but  impressive  testimony,  I  hope,  to  the  comfort  of  . 
Friends;  and  on  the  next  day  I  attended  the  service  of  the  Quar- 
terly Meeting  of  Friends  there.     This  was  a  time  of  deep  exercise 


2S(I  JOLKNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKNETT.  1851 

and  proving  to  me.  In  the  meeting  for  worship  I  was  in  a  pretty 
good  degree  opened  in  the  testimony  of  the  gospel;  but  soon  after 
closing  my  discourse  I  was  dismounted,  as  it  were,  from  off  the 
Kino-'s  horse,  and  had  to  go  down,  as  it  were,  to  the  King's  gate,  and 
to  sit  alone,  clothed  upon  with  dust  and  ashes,  and  -with  the  gar- 
ments of  wi'cpiiKj  and  woe  and  lamentations. 

I  beseech  thee,  0  Lord,  everlasting  God,  to  support  me  with 
thine  own  outstretched  arm  under  all  these  dei-p  and  weighty  exer- 
cises, for  vain  is  the  help  of  man,  and  thou  alone  kuowest  all  my 
secret  sorrows  and  groanings.  I  am  poor  and  needy,  and  I  stand 
continually  in  need  of  thine  adorable  mercy.  More  and  more,  I 
pray  thee,  to  unite  me  with  thy  wisdom,  with  thy  grace,  and  with 
true  and  saving  faith,  that  I  may  go  forth  in  thy  name  in  a  manner 
as  shall  be  well  pleasing  to  thee,  and  to  the  comfort  and  edification 
of  thy  people;  and  as  it  may  please  thee,  let  thy  good  spirit  more 
and  more  lead  me  in  all  things.  Thy  Avill,  not  mine,  be  done. 
iVmen. 

The  3rd.  I  this  evening  held  a  public  meeting  at  Looe,  a  sea- 
port town,  in  the  temperance  hall,  which  was  a  large  and  crowded 
meeting.  Those  in  attendance  came  in  very  much  unsettled  in  their 
minds,  which  caused  me  to  feel  deeply  concerned  for  them,  so  that 
I  secretly  prayed  in  my  spirit  for  them.  1'ruth  at  length  arose  in 
dominion  over  this  company,  and  granted  me  wisdom,  strength  and 
utterance,  to  tlie  peace  of  my  own  mind  and  to  the  humility  and 
comfort  of  many  minds  in  attendance.  The  baj^tizing  jiower  of  the 
Lord  was  felt  to  be  over  this  meeting.  All  the  praise  is  alone  due 
to  him  forevermore. 

The  -ith.  I  this  morning  received  the  following  kind  and  very 
affectionate  letter  from  a  dear  friend  of  mine  in  America: 

Philadelphia,  5th  mo.  5th,  1851. 
My  Edeemed  Friend: 

In  a  measure  of  brotherly  love  I  feel  disposed,  to  address  thee, 
and  to  say  thon  art  often  the  companion  of  my  thoughts, — having 
long  felt  a  deep  interest  in  thy  welfare,  which  feeling  has  been 
strengthened  by  the  lapse  of  time,  and  by  the  service  in  which  thou 
art  7101V  engaged.  I  can  truly  say  the  very  responsible  mission  thou 
art  noiu  performing  has  introduced  my  mind  into  deep  feeling  with 
and  for  thee,  earnestly  desiring  that  lie  who  can  alone  guide  in  the 
path  of  safety  may  graciously  continue  the  extension  of  his  holy 
care  over  thee. 

-From  what  I  liave  heard  of  thy  progress,  I  am  comforted  in  be- 
lieving that  the  dear  Master  has  condescended  to  be  with  thee,  ful- 
filling his  promise  of  being  nioutli  and  wisdom.  Humbly  believing 
this  to  be  the  case,  tlie  first  wish  of  my  heart  is  that  we  may  be  able 
in  sinccrili/  to  say  in  this  language:  "Xot  unto  us,  0  Lord,  not 
unto  us,  but  unto  thy  name  give"  ice  ''glory  for  thy  mercy  and  for 
truth's  sake."     I  have  not  heard  what  tby  })rospccts  are  in  relation 


1851  JOURN"AL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  281 

to  thy  return  to  this  country,  but,  my  dear  friend,  I  can  and  do  in 
measure  enter  thy  sdlTowful  feelings  when  looking  towards  thv 
vacant  and  lonely  home.  Should  it  appear,  however,  consistent 
with  thy  duty  again  to  cross  the  Atlantic,  thou  wilt  find  my  house 
and  heart  open — should  life  and  health  be  given  me  at  that  time — 
to  thee,  and  any  service  in  my  power  that  may  tend  to  thy  con- 
venience will  be,  I  trust,  cheerfully  performed  by  thy 

Sincere  friend, 

Thomas  Wistar,  Jr. 

In  the  evening  of  this  day  I  held  a  meeting  for  Friends  and 
others  at  Tideford,  which  was  small,  and  rather  a  trying  and  jorov- 
ing  season,  in  consequence  of  the  lukewarmness  prevalent  among  the 
few  friends  of  this  place.  I  was  at  length,  however,  favored  with  a 
short  but  impressive  testimony,  to  pretty  good  satisfaction,  tending 
to  stir  up  the  minds  of  those  present  by  way  of  remembrance,  and 
commanding  them  to  the  pointings  of  truth. 

The  5th.  I  this  day  traveled  to  Austle  by  coach  conveyance,  and 
the  next  day  being  First-day,  I  attended  Friends'  meeting  there  in 
the  morning,  which  was,  through  divine  mercy,  made  a  pretty  good 
season;  and  in  the  evening  I  held  a  public  meeting  in  this  town, 
which  was  largely  attended  by  a  promiscuous  congregation,  among 
whom  the  glad  tidings  of  the  everlasting  gospel  went  forth,  to  the 
.  humility  and  edification  of  many  precious  and  baptized  souls.  The 
sincere  Christian  and  tribulated  traveler  toward  a  glorious  and  hap- 
py eternity  was  much  encouraged  in  the  way  of  righteousness,  and 
the  sinner  was  called  and  warned  to  flee  betimes  from  the  wrath  to 
come,  and  the  way  was  pointed  out  to  him  for  amendment  of  life. 

The  7th,  I  this  day  went  to  the  town  of  Truro,  where  in  the 
evening  I  held  a  meeting  for  Friends  and  others,  which  was  a  large 
and  highly  favored  meeting,  wherein  the  solemn  and  impressive 
warning  of  the  glorious  and  everlasting  gospel  went  forth  in  the 
•demonstration  of  the  spirit  and  with  power.  This  was  a  meeting 
long  to  be  remembered,  I  believe,  by  many  for  good. 

The  8th.  I  devoted  this  day  to  writing,  reading  and  meditation, 
and  to  some  bodily  exercise  for  the  benefit  of  my  health;  and  on  the 
next  day  I  attended  the  little  meeting  of  Friends  at  Penzance,  as  it 
came  in  course,  where  in  the  evening  I  held  a  i)retty  good  open 
iniblic  meeting,  wherein  the  blessed  truth  in  a  good  degree  had  the 
.sway  and  government  over  the  minds  of  the  jDcople. 

The  10th.  A  day  of  deeji  exercise  with  me,  wherein  "I  cried 
unto  the  Lord  with  my  voice,  and  he  heard  me  out  of  his  holy  hill." 
I  said  in  my  prayer  "Arise,  0  Lord  I  Save  me,  0  my  God,"  for 
thou  art  more  to  me  in  thy  protection  and  salvation  than  all  the 
world;  therefore,  keep  and  sustain  me  on  every  hand  for  thy  work's 
sake;  and  when  I  am  brought  very  low,  and  feel  that  I  have  to  stand 
alone  before  thee,  0  then  1  beseech  thee  to  protect  me  through  thy 
iidorable  mercy.      Thy  will,  0  God,  and  not  mine,  be  done,  for 


282  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKNETT.  1851 

thine  is  the  glory  now  and  forever.  In  the  evening  I  held  a  public 
meeting  at  Camborne,  in  the  Bible  Christians'  chapel,  so  called, 
where  I  met  a  hungry  and  thirsty  congregation  of  believers  in 
Christ,  among  whom  Ihe  doctrine  of  the  everlasting  gospel  was 
preached  in  the  authority  of  the  power  of  an  endless  life.  I  thought 
that  some  good  was  done  in  this  meeting.  The  great  name  of  the 
Good  Shepherd  of  Israel  was  exalted  over,  and  above  all.  Praised 
forever  be  his  glorious  name,  for  he  is  worthy! 

The  two  following  days  I  dwelt  very  much  alone.  I  felt  solitary, 
and  was  much  cast  down  in  spirit.  I  wanted  more  and  more  to  live 
very  nigh  unto  him  who  alone  can  support  and  protect  me  in  all  my 
goings  forth  in  this  world.  I  cried  in  my  prayer  to  him  in  this 
language:  "Hear  when  I  call,  0  God  of  my  righteousness;  thou 
hast  enlarged  me  when  I  was  in  distress.  Have  mercy  upon  me, 
and  hear  my  prayer."  "Give  ear  to  my  words,  0  Lord, — consider 
my  meditation;"  let  me  "stand  in  awe,  and  sin  not;"  let  me  "com- 
mune with"  my  "own  heart  upon"  my  "bed,  and  be  still."  Let 
this  be  my  experience  before  thee  oftentimes,  0  my  God,  and  "keep 
me  as  the  apple  of  the  eye, — hide  me  under  the  shadow  of  thy 
Avings,"  and  order  all  my  steps  before  thee  ;  and  "let  the  words  of 
my  mouth  and  the  meditation  of  my  heart  be  acceptable  in  thy 
sight,  0  Lord,  my  strength  and   my  Redeemer."     "Hear  my  cry, 

0  God;  attend  unto  my  prayer, — from  the  end  of  the  earth  will  I 
cry  unto  thee,  when  my  heart  is  overwhelmed.  Lead  me  to  the  rock 
that  is  higher  than  I,  for  thou  hast  been  a  shelter  for  me,  and  a 
strong  town  from  the  enemy.  I  will  abide  in  thy  tabernacle  for- 
ever— I  will  trust  in  the  covert  of  thy  wings,  for  thou,  0  God,  hast 
heard  my  vows;  thou  hast  given  me  the  heritage  of  those  that  fear 
thy  name."  I  beseech  thee,  0  Lord,  everlasting  God,  to  keep  me 
and  to  preserve  me  in  the  day  of  rebuke,  and  let  me  not  give  place 
to  the  enemy,  in  any  degree,  in  the  hour  of  temptation;  and  for  the 
sake  of  thine  own  cause  strengthen  me,  I  pray  thee,  in  the  day  of 
battle:  and  teach  me  more  and  more  to  be  patient,  calm  and  dispas- 
sionate in  thy  name,  under  all  the  circumstances  of  this  life;  and 
let  me  in  faith  more  and  more  unreservedly  dedicate  myself  wholly 
to  thee,  for  thou  art  worthy  now  and  forever.     Amen. 

The  13th.     Being  First-day,    I   attended    in   the   morning  the 
meeting  of  Friends  at  Redruth,  and  had  some  })retty  good  service. 

1  found  some  kind  and  interesting  Friends  in  this  meeting,  and  it 
appeared  to  me  that  there  Avere  also  those  therein  who  were  careless 
and  lukewarm.  In  the  evening  I  held  a  public  meeting  for  the 
people  of  this  town.  When  I  Avent  to  this  meeting  I  met  such  a 
great  crowd  of  people  that  it  was  Avitli  much  difficulty  that  I  could 
proceed  forward  and  obtain  my  seat.  In  doing  which,  hoAvever,  I 
soon  felt  the  mighty  power  of  God  to  arise,  Avheuein  I  was  favored 
to  labor  eircctually,  there  being  many  hungry  and  thirsty  souls  in 
attendance,  who  were  much  comforted  under  the  effusion  of  the 


1851  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  383 

water  of  eternal  life.  I  thought  that  every  state  in  this  meeting- 
was,  in  degree,  spoken  to,  in  the  love  of  Christ,  who  is  worthy  now 
and  forevermore. 

The  14th.  I  was  this  day  much  depressed  in  the  spirit  of  my 
mind.  I  was  brought  low  in  body  and  mind,  my  health  being  poor. 
I  mourned  in  my  heart  in  consequence  of  the  prevalence  of  a  luke- 
warm spirit,  in  many  instances,  in  the  professed  churches  of  Christ, 
and  prayer  was  raised  in  me  to  him  to  bring  about  in  his  own  way 
and  time  a  revival  among  his  people.  I  this  day  dwelt  much  alone 
in  solid  retirement  of  spirit. 

The  15th.  I  this  day  attended  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends 
held  at  Truro,  where  I  met  with  a  goodly  number  of  kind  and  in- 
teresting Friends,  among  whom  I  felt  much  refreshed  and  renewed 
up  in  the  spirit  of  my  mind.  The  good  presence  of  the  Shepherd 
of  Israel  was  mercifully  with  us  in  this  meeting,  wherein  we  felt 
renewedly  built  up  in  the  most  holy  faith.  Friends,  after  this 
meeting,  manifested  much  Christian  sympathy  for  and  with  me. 
Praised  be  the  Lord  forever! 

The  16th.  I  this  day  attended  the  mid-week  meeting  of  Friends 
at  Falmouth,  as  it  came  in  course,  where,  on  the  next  day,  in  the 
evening,  I  held  a  good  and  open  public  meeting.  My  visit  to  this 
place  was  of  an  interesting  character.  In  the  meeting  of  Friends, 
as  well  as  in  the  public  meeting  in  this  town,  I  was  much  opened 
and  set  at  liberty  in  the  love  of  the  everlasting  gospel.  Friends 
there,  while  my  lot  was  cast  among  them,  were  very  kind  to  me,  and 
manifested  toward  me  the  tenderest  Christian  sympathy.  While 
there  I  visited  a  number  of  aged  Friends,  in  gospel  love,  as  well  as 
many  of  the  beloved  youth,  to  mutual  benefit  and  encouragement. 

The  18th.  I  was  this  day  brought  into  deep  feeling  in  the  spirit 
of  my  mind,  wherein  the  language  of  my  heart  was  in  my  prayer 
to  the  eternal,  immortal  King,  after  this  manner:  "The  Lord  is  my 
shepherd,  I  shall  not  want;  He  maketh  me  to  lie  down  in  green 
pastures,  He  leadeth  me  beside  the  still  waters;  He  restoreth  my 
soul;  He  leadeth  me  in  the  paths  of  righteousness,  for  His  name's 
sake."  "Judge  me,  0  Lord,  for  I  have  walked  in  mine  integrity; 
I  have  trusted  also  in  the  Lord,  therefore  I  shall  not  slide;  examine- 
me,  0  Lord,  and  prove  me ;  try  my  reins  and  my  heart,  for  thy 
loving  kindness  is  before  mine  eyes,  and  I  liave  walked  m  thy  truth. 
I  have  not  sat  with  vain  persons,  neither  will  I  go  in  with  dissemb- 
lers." Unto  thee  will  I  cry,  0  Lord,  my  rock;  be  not  silent  to  me, 
lest  if  thou  be  silent  to  me  I  become  like  them  that  go  down  into 
the  pit,"  for  I  know  that  I  have  nothing  to  stand  upon  for  thy  sal- 
vation but  thy  free  mercy;  thou  knowest,  0  my  God,  that  often- 
times deep  are  my  exercises,  and  many  are  my  solitary  tears.  0, 
I  pray  thee  to  protect  me  in  all  my  heights  and  depths,  to  the  glory 
of  thy  name.     Amen. 

The  19th.     I  this  day  traveled,  through  a  great  storm  of  wind 


284  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    Al^NETT.  1851 

and  rain,  to  Kingsbridge  ;  and  the  next  day  being  First-day,  I  at- 
tended in  the  morning  the  meeting  of  Friends  there,  which  was 
.small,  and  a  season  of  deep  and  sore  exercise  with  me,  wherein  "  I 
was  dumb  with  silence ;  I  held  my  peace."  "and  my  sorrow  was 
stirred;  my  heart  was  hot  within  me,  while  I  was  musing  the  fire 
burned"  within  me,  but  there  was  no  utterance  given  to  me.  My 
secretory  was,  "Lord,  make  me  to  know  mine  end,  and  the  measure 
of  my  days,  what  it  is,  that  I  may  know  how  frail  I  am."  I  was 
dumb;  I  opened  not  my  mouth,  because  thou  didst  it."  "Hear  my 
prayer,  0  Lord,  and  give  ear  unto  my  cry ;  hold  not  thy  peace  at 
my  tears,  for  I  am  a  stranger  with  thee,  and  a  sojourner"  in  this 
tribulatcd  world,  going  forth  as  a  solitary  stranger  among  strangers, 
in  the  defence  of  thine  everlasting  gospel.  0,  preserve  and  sustain 
me,  I  pray  thee,  on  every  hand,  in  the  prosecution  of  this  great 
concern,  into  which  thou  hast  mercifully  called  me,  for  the  cause 
is  thine,  and  not  mine ;  therefore  sustain  it  in  my  hand,  to  the 
glory  and  the  honor  of  thy  worthy  name. 

In  the  evening  I  held  a  public  meeting  in  this  town,  which  was 
a  large  and  crowded  meeting.  The  people  in  attendance  came  to- 
gether very  much  unsettled  in  the  spirit  of  their  minds,  and  I, 
taking  my  seat  among  them,  soon  became  deeply  impressed  with  a 
weighty  concern  for  their  present  and  eternal  well-being,  and  the 
truth  soon  opened  my  mouth,  and  set  me  much  at  liberty  among 
them,  and  it  appeared  to  me  that  every  soul  present  soon  became 
hushed  down  into  profound  silence  under  the  power  of  an  endless 
life.  This  was  a  good  and  precious  meeting,  and  closed  with  prayer 
to  God  for  all  his  mercies. 

The  21st.  I  this  evening  held  a  public  meeting  at  Modbury,  in 
the  British  school-room.  When  I  went  into  this  meeting  I  felt 
poor,  and  was  much  cast  down  in  spirit;  but  truth  soon  arose,  in  a 
good  degree,  into  dominion  ;  so  that  we  had,  mercifully,  a  good 
open  meeting.     Praised  forever  be  the  Lord  I 

The  22nd.  I  this  day  dwelt  much  alone,  being  much  retired  in 
the  spirit  of  my  mind,  and  the  language  of  my  heart  was:  "I  will 
extol  thee,  0  Lord,  for  thou  hast  lifted  me  up,"  and  delivered  me 
again  and  again.  "U  Lord,  my  God,  I  cried  unto  thee,  and  thou 
hast  heard  me,"  and  again  and  again  thou  hast  anointed  me  and 
sent  me  forth  in  the  love  of  thine  everlasting  gospel.-  "In  thee,  0 
Lord,  do  I  put  my  trust,  let  me  never  be  ashamed"  of  thy  good 
cause;  "deliver  me  in  thy  righteousness,  bow  doAvn  thine  ear  to 
me;"  "be  thou  my  strong  rock,  for  an  house  of  defense  to  save  me, 
for  thou  art  my  rock  and  my  fortress,  therefore  for  thy  name's  sake 
lead  me  and  guide  me."  "Into  thine  hand  I  commit  my  s])irit; 
thou  hast  redeemed  me,  0  Lord  God,  of  truth."  "When  I  kept 
silence"  then  oftentimes  my  spirit  mourned  within  me,  because  I 
was  cast  down  under  deep  pressure  of  spirit,  under  a  sense  of  the 
vanity  of  this  world:  but  "the  Lord  is  nigh  unto  them  that  are  of 


1*51  JOUKJfAL   OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  285 

a  broken  heart,  and  savetli  such  as  be  of  a  contrite  spirit;  many  are 
the  afflictions  of  the  righteous,  but  the  Lord  delivereth  him  out  of 
them  all.  I  love  thee,  0  Lord,  and  "I  will  give  thee  thanks  in  the 
great  congregation;  I  will  praise  thee  among  much  people,"  "and 
my  tongue  shall  speak  of  thy  righteousness  and  of  thy  praise  all 
the  day  long,"  for  "thy  mercy,  0  Lord, , is  in  the  heavens,  and  thy 
faithfulness  reacheth  unto  the  clouds,"  "for  with  thee  is  the  fount- 
ain of  life,  in  thy  light  shall"  I  "see  light."  "0,  continue  thy 
loving  kindness  unto"  me,  and  let  thy  will  in  all  things  be  done. 
Amen, 

The  2ord.  I  this  evening  held  a  public  meeting  at  Totnes,  in  the 
Independent  chapel.  The  people  who  attended  were  generally  of  a 
religious  character,  and  ajjpeared  to  be  desirous  renewedly  to  be  in- 
structed in  the  gospel  of  Christ,  among  whom  I  sat  some  time  in 
silence,  under  deep  exercise.  At  length  way  opened,  in  the  love  of 
the  truth,  for  me  to  arise  and  address  them,  I  trust  effectually,  in 
the  authority  of  the  power  of  an  endless  life.  They  were  vey  still 
and  quiet,  and  appeared  to  receive  the  truth  delivered  among  them 
in  the  love  of  it.  The  meeting  solemnly  closed  with  prayer  to 
God.     Praised  forever  be  his  name. 

The  24th.  I  awoke  this  morning  with  feelings  of  deep  humility, 
desiring  the  fresh  income  of  divine  support.  "I  waited  patiently 
for  the  Lord,  and  He  inclined  unto  me,  and  heard  my  cry." 
"Many,  0  Lord,  my  God,  are  thy  wonderful  works  which  thou  hast 
done,  and  thy  thoughts,  which  are"  toward  thy  faithful  and  de- 
voted people;  "they  cannot  be  reckoned  up  in  order  unto  thee.'^ 
"If  I  would  declare  and  speak  of  them,  they  are  more  than  can  be 
numbered,"  wherefore  "I  delight  to  do  thy  will,  0  my  God;  yea, 
thy  law  is  within  my  heart."  I  beseech  thee  more  and  more  let 
me  meditate  in  thy  law  both  day  and  night,  that  I  may  gradually 
deepen  in  the  root  of  immortal  life,  and  please  thee  in  all  things. 

I  this  evening  held  a  public  meeting  at  Torquay,  in  the  Union 
hall,  which  was  pretty  well  attended  by  serious,  sober-minded  peo- 
ple, among  whom  I  was  largely  opened  on  the  subject  of  the 
wondrous  works  of  God,  and  the  manifestation  of  his  mercy  toman 
through  the  blessed  mediation  of  his  well  beloved  Son,  and  the 
manifestation  of  his  good  spirit,  in  every  i\ge  of  the  world.  They 
appeared  to  be  much  humbled,  and  I  believe  that  they  in  some  de- 
gree were  benefited  by  attending  this  meeting.  All  the  praise  is 
forever  due  to  the  Good  Shepherd  of  Israel. 

The  two  following  days  I  spent  in  visiting  some  friends,  in  trav- 
eling a  little  from  place  to  place,  and  in  meditating  on  the  wondrous 
works  of  God,  being  impressed  in  some  degree  with  a  renewed  sense 
of  his  glory,  wisdom  and  power. 

In  my  meditation  the  language  of  my  heart  was,  "God  is"  my 
"refuge  and  strength,  a  very  present  help  in  trouble;  therefore  will 
not"  I  "fear,  though  the  earth  be  removed,  and  though  the  mount- 


286  JOURXAL   OF   THOMAS    ARKETl  1851 

ains  be  carried  into  the  midst  of  the  sea;  though  the  waters  thereof 
roar  and  be  troubled,  though  tlie  mountains  sluike  with  the  swelling 
thereof/'  I  "have  thought  of  thy  loving  kindness,  0  God,  in  the 
midst  of  thy  temple;  according  to  thy  name,  0  God,  so  is  thy  praise 
nnto  the  ends  of  the  earth  ;  thy  right  hand  is  full  of  righteousness;"' 
therefore  "have  mercy  upon  me,  0  God,  according  to  thy  loving 
kindness;  according  unto  the  multitude  of  thy  tender  mercies,  blot 
out"  all  "my  transgressions,"  and  "wash  me  thoroughly,"  and 
cleanse  me  from  time  to  time,  that  I  may  be  kept  pure  and  un- 
spotted from  the  world,  that  thy  free  word  may  flow  through  me,  to 
the  edification  of  thy  people  and  to  the  calling  of  sinners  to  re- 
pentance, for  "I  am,"  in  some  degree,  "like  a  green  olive  tree  in  the 
home  of  God;  I  trust  in  the  mercy  of  God  forever  and  ever," 
yet  I  am  clothed  upon  with  much  infirmity,  and  oftentimes  have 
to  go  both  day  and  night  on  my  way  with  deep  inward  mourning, 
crying  in  my  spirit  to  the  everlasting  God  to  lead  me  in  his  own  way, 
and  more  and  more  to  deliver  me  from  the  evil,  both  on  the  right 
hand  and  on  the  left  hand,  knowing  that  I  cannot  stand  pre- 
served before  him  in  this  wicked  and  fallen  world,  even  one 
momeiit,  without  his  almighty  protecting  arm;  and  in  the  discharge 
of  all  my  religious  duties  I  am  still  an  unprofitable  servant,  and  can 
alone  depend  on  his  free  mercy  for  eternal  redemption,  therefore 
"save  me,  0  God,  by  thy  name,  and  judge  me  by  thy  strength  ;  hear 
my  prayer,  0  God,  give  ear  to  the  words  of  my  mouth,"  and  direct  all 
my  steps  according  to  thy  wisdom  and  truth.  "Behold,  God  is  mine 
helper;  the  Lord  is  with  them  that  uphold  mysoul,"  therefore  "give 
ear  to  my  pra3'er,  0  God.  and  hide  not  thyself  from  my  supjDlica- 
tion;  attend  unto  me,  and  hear  me;  I  mourn  in  my  complaint,"  and 
cry  to  thee,  for  "my  heart  is  fixed,  0  God, — my  heart  is  fixed: 
I  will  smg  and  give  praise"  to  thee  according  to  the  opening  of 
thy  good  spirit  in  me;  therefore  "hear  my  cry,  0  God;  attend 
unto  my  prayer;  from  the  end  of  the  earth  will  I  cry  nnto  thee 
when  my  heart  is  overwhelmed;  lead  me  to  the  rock  that  is  higher 
than  I,  for  thou  hast  been  a  shelter  for  me,  and  a  strong  tower 
from  the  enemy.  J  will  abide  in  thy  tabernacle  forever,  I  will 
trust  in  the  covert  of  thy  wings;"  therefore,  "my  soul,  wait  thou 
only  upon  God,  for  my  expectation  is  from  Him;  He  only  is  my 
rock  and  my  salvation;  lie  is  my  defense,  I  shall  not  be  moved" 
while  I  trust  in  him,  for  "in  God  is  my  salvation  and  my  glory;  the 
rock  of  my  strength  and  my  refuge  is  in  God,"  for  "my  soul  fol- 
loweth  hard  after  thee;  thy  right  hand  uplioldeth  me,"  for  "I  re- 
member thee  upon  my  bed,  and  meditate  on  thee  in  the  night 
watches,  because  thou  hast  been  my  help;  therefore,  in  the  shadow 
of  thy  wings,  will  I  rejoice;"  "but'  I  am,"  oftentimes,  "poor  and 
sorrowful;  let  thy  salvation,  0  God,  set  me  up  on  high,"  for  "I  will 
])iaise  the  name  of  God  with  a  song,  and  will  magnify  Him  with 
thanksgiving,"  "for  thou  art  my  hope,  0  Lord  God;  thou  art  my 


JS.51  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARXETT.  287 

trust  from  my  youth,"  for  "I  am  us  a  woman  unto  many,  but  thou 
art  ray  strong  refuge;  let  my  mouth  be  filled  with  thy  praise  and 
with  thy  honor  all  the  day;  cast  me  not  off  in  the  time  of  old  age," 
for  "I  will  hope  continually,  and  will  yet  praise  thee  more  and  more; 
my  mouth  shall  show  forth  thy  righteousness  and  thy  salvation  all 
the  day,  for  I  know  not  the  numbers  thereof.  ''Thou  which 
hast  showed  me  great  and  sore  troubles,  shall  quicken  me  again, 
and  shalt  bring  me  up  again  from  the  depths  of  the  earth/"  This 
has  oftentimes  been  my  experience,  0  my  God,  under  the  turning 
and  the  overturning  of  thy  holy  hand  upon  me,  from  my  youth  up 
to  my  present  age.  Again  and  again  thou  hast  permitted  deep  and 
sore  trials  to  come  upon  me  for  my  good,  and  thou  hast  therein 
shewed  me  thy  great  and  protecting  power,  and  again  and  agaiif 
thou  hast  brought  about  many  deliverances  for  me,  and  it  is  of  thy 
mercies  alone  that  I  am  not  consumed,  because  thy  compassions  to- 
ward me  fail  not.  They  are  new  toward  me  every  morning,  and 
even  every  moment  of  my  life,  yet  I  am  often  very  poor  and  much 
cast  down  in  the  spirit  of  my  mind,  wherein  much  inward  mourning 
is  oftentimes  renewed  in  me,  ''nevertheless  I  am  continually  Avith 
thee;  thou  hast  liolden  me  by  my  right  hand;  thou  shalt  guide  me," 
as  I  am  faithful  to  thee,  "with  thy  counsel,  and  afterward  receive 
me  to  glory,"  for  "whom  have  I  in  heaven  but  thee  ?  and  there  is 
none  upon  earth  that  I  desire  beside  thee,"  for  thou  art  "the 
strength  of  my  heart  and  my  jDortion  forever,"  and  "it  is  good  for 
me  to  draw  near  to''  thee  oftentimes,  and  to  "put  my  trust  in"  thee 
alone,  "that  I  may  declare  all  thy  works,''  so  far  as  may  be  consist- 
ent with  thy  holy  will.  I  beseech  theOj  0  my  God,  to  have  mercy 
upon  me,  and  perform  thy  will  concerning  me  in  all  things,  and 
preserve  me  unto  thy  heavenly  kingdom.     Amen. 

The  27th.  Being  First-day,  I  this  morning  again  attended  the 
meeting  of  Friends  at  Plymouth,  having  gone  to  this  j^lace  on  the 
evening  preceding.  This  meeting  was  a  good  refreshing  season  to 
Friends,  we  being  a  little  renewedly  united  in  spirit,  and  brought 
to  feel  near  together  in  Christian  fellowship.  In  the  evening  I 
held  another  iDublic  meeting  in  this  town.  About  five  hundred  peo- 
ple attended  this  meeting,  who  were  very  still  and  quiet  throughout 
the  whole  service  thereof,  and  although  this  was  a  very  mixed  com- 
pany as  to  religious  opinion,  yet  the  everlasting  truth  overruled  all, 
to  the  glory  of  God.  My  understanding  was  eminently  opened  in 
the  illustration  of  the  great  doctrine  of  Christian  redemption,  to 
the  breaking  down  of  many  prejudices  and  renewedly  uniting  the  ' 
people  before  me  in  a  more  of  a  oneness  of  feeling  in  regard  to  the 
way  of  life  and  salvation.     Praised  forever  be  the  Lord. 

The  28th.  I  this  day  traveled  much,  upwards  of  fifty  miles  to 
Spiceland,  where,  in  the  evening,  I  held  a  pretty  good  meeting  for 
Friends  and  others.  About  a  hundred  people  attended,  among 
whom  the  principles  of   truth  were   disseminated,  to  edification. 


288  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  1851 

The  20th.  I  tliis  day,  after  passing  through  a  sleepless  night, 
had  to  endure  much  trial,  discouragement  and  proving  exercises  of 
mind,  my  health  being  poor,  and  being  much  cast  down  in  body 
and  mind.  I  traveled  upwards  of  forty  miles  to  Barnstaple,  where, 
in  the  evening,  I  held  a  public  meeting  in  the  Guild  hall,  so  called. 
About  a  hundred  people  came  together,  among  whom  I  deeply 
mourned  in  spirit,  under  a  renewed  sense  of  the  prevalence  of  a 
lukewarm  spirit  in  the  professed  churches  of  Christ.  After  sitting 
some  time  among  them  as  a  fool  for  Christ's  sake,  a  little  word  of 
exhortation  was  given  me  for  them,  after  the  delivery  of  which  the 
meeting  closed  under  some  little  religious  feeling,  but  not  to  the  re- 
lief of  my  conscience  and  borne-down  mind. 

The  30th.  I  traveled  this  day  by  coach  and  railroad  conveyance 
through  a  delightful  and  beautiful  country,  upwards  of  forty 
miles,  to  the  city  of  Exeter,  where,  on  the  next  day,  I  again  at- 
tended the  meeting  of  Friends,  as  it  came  in  course,  which  was  a 
good  and  pleasant  opportunity,  after  which,  in  the  evening,  I 
traveled  by  coach  conveyance  to  Bridport. 

8th  month,  first.  I  awoke  this  morning  under  much  deep  re- 
newed concern  for  my  preservation  on  every  hand,  wherein  "I  cried 
unto  God  with  my  voice,  and  He  gave  ear  unto  me."  I  said  in  my 
spirit,  "I  call  to  remembrance  my  song  in  the  night;  I  com-, 
mune  with  mine  own  heart,  and  my  spirit  made  diligent  search." 
"T  will  remember  the  works  of  tlie  Lord,  surely  I  aviII  remem- 
ber thy  wonders  of  old;  I  will  meditate  also  of  all  thy  work  and 
talk  of  thy  doings,"  for  "thy  way  is  in  tlie  sea,  and  thy  path  in  the 
great  waters,  and  thy  footsteps  are  not  known,"  and  great  and 
wonderful  is  thy  mercy  to  man  in  every  age  of  the  world. 

I  this  evening  held  a  public  meeting  at  Bridport,  in  the  Meth- 
odist chapel.  About  five  Inmdred  peojjle  attended  this  meeting, 
who  were  generally  under  religious  concern  for  their  present  and 
eternal  well-being,  among  whom  the  message  of  the  everlasting 
gospel  went  forth,  to  the  melting  down  of  many  sincere  baptized 
souls  into  humility  and  thanksgiving  to  the  merciful  Shepherd 
of  Israel  for  all  his  mercies  and  benefits. 

The  2nd.  I  traveled  this  day  by  coach  and  railroad  conveyance 
to  Poole,  and  the  next  day  being  First-day,  I  attended  the  meeting 
of  Friends  there  in  the  morning,  which  was  a  small  but  joretty  good 
refreshing  meeting.  In  the  evening  I  held  a  public  meeting  there, 
where  I  met  about  five  hundred  sober-minded  people,  among  whom 
I  was  much  set  at  liberty  in  pointing  out  the  awful  consequences  of 
sin,  and  the  way  to  be  delivered  therefrom,  so  as  to  enjoy  eternal 
ha])pinoss. 

The  4th.  I  this  day  traveled  to  Shirley,  near  Southampton, 
wliere,  on  the  next  day  I  was  very  much  <iuiet  and  «/o«^' at  a  friend's 
house,  engaged  in  writing  and  meditation,  wherein  I  was  brought 
under  deep  inward  exercise  of  mind,  and  in  the  opening  of  the  light 


1851  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  289 

of  truth,  the  language  of  my  heart  was,  "How  amiable  are  Thy 
tabernacles,  0  Lord  of  hosts  ;  my  soul  longeth,  yea,  even  faintetli 
for  the  courts  of  the  Lord  ;  my  heart  and  my  flesh  without  for  the 
living  God  ;"  yes,  saith  my  spirit,  "  blessed  are  they  that  dwell  in 
Thy  house,  they  will  be  still  praising  Thee  ;  they  go  from  strength  to 
strength,  every  one  of  them  in  Zion  appeareth  before  God  ;"  "for  a 
day  in  Thy  courts  is  better  than  a  thousand.  I  had  rather  be  a  door- 
keeper in  the  house  of  my  God  than  to  dwell  in  the  tents  of  wicked- 
ness ;  for  the  Lord  God  is  a  sun  and  shield  ;  the  Lord  will  give 
grace  and  glory,  no  good  thing  will  He  withhold  from  them  that 
walk  uprightly  ;  0  Lord  of  hosts,  blessed  is  the  man  that  trusteth 
in  Thee  ;"  and  for  my  own  part,  "  I  will  hear  what  God  the  Lord 
will  speak,  for  He  will  speak  peace  unto  His  people,  and  to  His 
saints  ;  but  let  them  not  turn  again  to  folly."  In  my  prayer  I  said, 
"  Bow  down  Thine  ear,  0  Lord,  hear  me,  for  I  am  poor  and  needy  ; 
preserve  my  soul"  from  the  evil  and  from  sin,  and  "be  merciful 
unto  me,  0  Lord,  for  I  say  unto  Thee  daily,"  "give  ear,  0  Lord, 
unto  my  prayer,  and  attend  to  the  voice  of  my  suj^plications;  in  the 
day  of  my  trouble  I  will  call  ujwn  Thee,  for  Thou  wilt  answer  me  ;" 
"teach  me  Thy  way,  0  Lord,  I  will  walk  in  Thy  truth,  unite  my 
heart  to  fear  Thy  name  ;  I  will  praise  Thee,  0  Lord  my  God,  with 
all  my  heart,  and  I  will  glorify  Thy  name  forevermore  ;"  0  Lord 
God  of  my  salvation,  I  have  cried  day  and  night  before  Thee,  let  my 
prayer  come  before  Thee,  incline  Thine  ear  unto  my  cry. 

The  6th.  I  this  evening  held  a  public  meetmg  at  Shirley,  in  the 
Methodist  chapel,  where  about  a  hundred  people  attended,  among 
whom  I  had  pretty  good  service  to  the  edification  of  the  sincere  and 
faithful,  and  on  the  next  day  I  attended  the  monthly  meeting  of 
Friends,  held  at  Southampton,  which  was  a  was  a  good  and  refresh- 
ing season  to  Friends. 

The  8th.  I  this  evening  about  11  o'clock,  in  company  with  my 
dear  friends,  Eobert  Alsop,  and  his  wife,  Christine  Alsop,  (who  was 
to  be  my  interpreter  as  occasion  should  require),  William  Hull,  and 
his  wife  Annie  M.  Hull,  Joseph  Eaton,  and  William  R.  Wagstaft', 
went  on  board  the  British  mail  steamer  at  Southampton  for  the 
Island  of  Guernsey  ;  we  set  sail  at  12  o'clock,  and  after  having  a 
very  pleasant  passage,  landed  there  at  St.  Peter's  port,  on  the  9th, 
at  9  o'clock  in  the  morning,  where  on  the  next  day,  being  First-day, 
we  attended  in  the  morning  the  meeting  of  Friends,  and  met  about 
twenty-five  people,  mostly  Friends,  which  was  a  season  of  encour- 
agement, and  in  the  evening  we  held  a  public  meeting  there ;  about 
a  hundred  people  attended,  who  were  serious  and  appeared  to 
receive  the  truth  delivered  among  them  in  the  love  of  it.  Praised 
forever  be  the  Lord. 

After  this,  through  the  course  of  the  two  following  days,  we  vis- 
ited in  Christian  love  the  few  families  of  Friends  residing  on  this 
island,  amounting  to  the  number  of  twelve  families,  and  in  going 


290  JOUliNAJ>    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  ig^i 

forth  on  this  visit  from  house  to  house,  wc  were  much  favored  under 
divine  mercy,  to  speak  suitably  to  the  states  of  our  dear  friends, 
liauding  forth  the  word  of  encouragement  and  exhortation  to  mutual 
benefit  and  edification,  and  in  some  instances  in  this  family  visit, 
my  discourses  had  to  be  interpreted  by  my  interpreter  into  the 
French  language  ;  and  I  trust  that  this  visit  will  be  of  lasting  bene- 
fit to  some  poor  discouraged  souls. 

The  13th.  We  this  evening  held  a  meeting  at  St.  Sampson's 
port,  in  the  Methodist  chapel ;  about  a  hundred  people  attended, 
among  whom  the  language  of  truth  went  forth  rather  in  a  degree 
of  weakening,  it  being  rather  a  low  time  with  me  ;  this  meeeting, 
however,  ended  pretty  well,  and  I  think  it  will  have  some  good 
ett'ect. 

The  14th.  I  this  day  was  renewedly  brought  under  deep  exercise, 
in  which  I  desired  to  live  nigher  and  nigher  to  the  good  Shepherd 
of  Israel,  and  the  language  of  my  heart  was.  '"'  I  will  say  of  the  Lord, 
He  is  my  refuge  and  my  fortress,  my  God,  in  whom  will  I  trust ;" 
"for  when  I  said  my  foot  slippeth.  Thy  mercj^  0  Lord,  held  me 
up  :  in  the  multitude  of  my  thoughts  within  me  Thy  comforts 
delight  my  soul ;"  for  many  are  my  temptations  both  within  and 
without :  '"  but  the  Lord  is  my  defense  :  and  my  God  is  the  rock  of 
my  refuge,'"'  and  my  support. 

We  this  morning  again  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at  St. 
Peter's  port,  where  we  met  about  fifteen  Friends,  and  a  few  others 
who  are  friendly  toward  us,  among  whom  I  sat  in  suffering 
silence,  but  some  of  the  dear  Friends  of  my  company  found  some 
good  service  on  this  occasion,  by  way  of  exhortation  and  a  word  of 
encouragement. 

In  the  evening  we  held  a  public  meeting  for  the  citizens  of  this 
town,  in  a  large  and  splendid  Metliodist  cluipel  ;  about  five  hundred 
peoi)le  atteiuled  this  meeting,  who  were  mostly  professors  of  Chris- 
tianity, among  whom  the  way  of  life  and  salvation  was  eminently 
illustrated  in  the  demonstration  of  the  spirit  and  with  power.  I 
thought  that  all  the  states  in  this  meeting  were  spoken  to,  and  many 
hearts  were  reached  and  melted  doAvn  into  great  tenderness  and 
humility.  The  meeting  solemnly  closed  with  prayer  to  the  Lord 
Almighty  for  all  his  mercies  and  blessings  to  all  mankind. 

The  loth.  AVe  this  evening  held  a  good  o])en  meeting  in  the 
French  Methodist  chapel,  near  Breckfield,  in  St.  Martin's  Parish; 
about  a  hundred  people  attended,  a  number  of  whom  could  not 
understand  my  language,  to  whom  the  substance  of  my  discourse  was 
interpreted  in  the  French  language  by  my  interi)reter,  so  that  this 
was  a  satisfactory  and  edifying  meeting.  Praised  be  forever  the 
name  of  the  good  Shepherd  of  Israel. 

The  IGth.  We  this  morning  at  U  o'clock  went  on  board  the  British 
mail  steamer  for  the  Island  of  Jersey,  where  we  landed  at  St. Helen, 
after  a  pleasant  sail  of  about  three  hours,  and  the  next  day  being 


1851  JOUKNAL    OF    THOMAS    AKNETT.  201 

First-day.  we  attended  in  the  morning  Friends  meeeting  there, 
where  we  met  about  twentj^-five  people,  including  Friends  and  those 
friendly  toward  us,  among  whom  we  had  a  good  religious  opportu- 
nity, and  in  the  afternoon  at  3  o'clock  we  held  a  public  meeting  at  St. 
Aubin,  in  the  French  Methodist  chapel ;  about  two  hundred  and 
fifty  people  attended,  who  could  generally  understand  my  language, 
among  whom  I  had  a  good,  free,  open  opportunity  in  throwing 
before  them  the  exercises  of  my  mind  for  their  present  and  eternal 
well  being.  This  was  a  very  solemn  meeting,  and  ended  to  good 
satisfaction. 

After  this,  through  the  course  of  the  two  following  days,  we  vis- 
ited in  Christian  love  the  few  families  of  Friends,  and  some  others 
who  are  friendly  toward  us,  residing  on  this  island.  In  the  prose- 
cution of  this  concern,  we  visited  upward  of  twelve  families  to  good 
satisfaction. 

The  20th.  I  awoke  this  morning  with  a  peaceful  mind;  all  within 
me  was  humbled  under  a  renewed  sense  of  God's  mercy  toward  me. 
I  sang  in  my  spirit  the  song  of  thanksgiving  to  him  ;  even  the  new 
song  which  no  man  can  learn  but  those  who  are  redeemed  from  the 
earth  and  from  among  men  by  the  precious  blood  of  the  Lamb,  the 
Saviour  of  the  world  I 

In  the  evening  we  held  a  meeting  in  the  French  Methodist  chapel, 
in  St.  Peter's  Parish.  About  two  hundred  people  were  present, 
and  although  my  discourse  had  to  be  interpreted  in  the  French  lan- 
guage, yet  remarkable  Christian  sobriety  and  solemnity  was  felt  to 
be  over  the  meeting,  under  which  I  believe  all  present  were  hum- 
bled and  editied.     Blessed  be  God  forever. 

The  21st.  We  this  morning  held  a  meeting  in  tiie  Frencli  Metho- 
dist chapel  in  the  parish  of  St.  Owen,  upward  of  three  hundred 
I^eople  attended,  to  whom  the  mercy  of  God,  with  the  call  of  the 
everlasting  gospel,  was  much  extended.  I  had  to  labor  in  the  gospel 
before  this  company  through  my  interpreter,  having  before  me  a 
French  congregation,  and  under  the  power  of  divine  grace,  all  who 
were  present  appeared  to  be  humbled  as  in  dust  and  ashes. 

The  22d.  I  was  this  day  favored  in  degree  with  the  good  pres- 
ence of  him,  ''that  Wcis  slain  to  receive  power,  and  riches,  and  wis- 
dom, and  strength,  and  honor,  and  glory,  and  blessing  ; "  to  whom 
I  cried  in  the  spirit  of  my  mind,  in  this  language  :  "'  0  Lord,  thou 
art  my  God  ;  I  will  exalt  thee,  I  will  praise  thy  name,  for  thou  hast 
done  wonderful  things ;  thy  counsels  of  old  are  faithfulness  and 
truth,"  and  thy  mercy  is  to  man  from  generation  to  generation. 

In  the  evening  we  held  a  meeting  in  tlie  Methodist  chapel  at 
Gorey,  where  about  two  hundred  English  people  attended,  among 
whom  the  power  of  an  endless  life  eminently  prevailed  ;  every  soul 
present  was  hushed  down  into  that  pure  silence  of  mind,  which 
opens  the  way  in  the  heart  to  receive  the  whole  truth  in  the  love  of 
it.     Blessed  be  God  forevermorel 


292  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  185» 

The  23d.  I  devoted  this  day  to  rest  and  quiet  meditation,  and 
the  next  day  being  First-day,  we  again  attended  the  meeting  of 
Friends  at  St.  Helens  in  the  morning,  where  we  met  the  same  com- 
pany that  came  together  with  us  a  week  ago,  among  whom  we  again 
had  a  good  refreshing  season. 

In  the  afternoon  at  3  o'clock  we  held  a  public  meeting  for  the 
English  citizens  of  this  town  in  the  Methodist  chapel  (Grove  Place): 
about  twelve  hundred  people  attended  this  meeting,  among  whom  1 
was  eminently  opened  in  the  illustration  of  the  great  doctrine  of 
Christian  redemption  in  the  demonstration  of  the  spirit,  and  with 
])Ower.  Much  Christian  solemnity  covered  this  meeting,  and  many 
])recious,  hungry,  sincere  and  baptized  souls  were  humbled  as  in 
dust  and  ashes,  who  rejoiced  in  God,  the  author  of  all  our  sure 
mercies  and  blessings. 

The  25th.  We  spent  the  forepart  of  this  day  in  taking  some 
bodily  exercise  for  the  benefit  of  our  health,  and  also  in  visiting 
some  families  of  those  friendly  toward  us  to  good  satisfaction,  and 
in  the  evening  we  held  a  meeting  in  the  parish  of  St.  Martins,  in 
the  French  Methodist  chapel.  About  four  hundred  people  attended . 
Avho  generally  could  only  understand  the  French  language,  before 
whom,  therefore,  I  labored  in  the  gospel  at  some  length  through  mv 
interpreter  to  very  good  satisfaction.  The  power  of  an  endless  life 
prevailed  in  this  meeting  to  the  tenderness  and  edification  of  many 
souls.     Blessed  be  God  forever! 

The  26th.  We  this  evening  held  another  public  meeting  for  the 
French  citizens  of  St.  Helens,  in  the  6Y«;/e Methodist  chajDel  (Grove 
Place),  Avhere  the  meeting  was  held  on  the  first  day  preceeding. 
About  six  hundred  people  attended  this  meeting,  before  whom  I 
labored  much  in  the  gospel  through  my  interpreter.  The  baptizing 
power  of  the  Lord  was  felt  to  be  over  this  meeting,  uniting  many 
Christian  souls  reneiuedly  in  gospel  fellowship. 

The  27th.  We  this  morning  at  7  o'clock  went  on  board  the 
British  mail  steamer  for  Southampton,  where  Ave  arrived  after  having 
a  very  rough  and  boisterous  voyage  of  about  twelve  hours,  during 
which  time  I  was  very  sea-sick,  and  vomited  most  severely.  There 
were  about  two  hundred  passengers  on  board,  most  of  whom  were 
also  very  sea-sick,  and  part  of  my  company  also  suffered  much  in 
this  way,  so  that  we  were  all  glad  and  thankful  when  we  were  safely 
landed;  and  after  landing  at  this  port,  I  most  tenderly,  affection- 
ately, and  prayerfully  took  my  leave  of  my  dear,  interesting  Friends 
who  had  been  acceptably  my  company  in  my  visit  to  these  two 
islands,  they  feeling  the  Avay  now  clear  again  to  return  home.  After 
parting  witli  them,  I  for  awhile  felt  very  lonesome,  but  I  was  favored 
in  the  obedience  of  faith  to  look  alone  to  God  for  support,  and  my 
cry  unto  him  was:  "Hear  my  cry,  0,  Lord,  and  let  my  cry  come 
unto  thee;  hide  not  thy  face  from  me  in  the  day  when  I  am  in 
trouble,"  and  much  cast  down  under  solitary  feelings.     "Incline 


1851  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  293 

thine  ear  unto  me;  in  the  day  when  I  call  answer  me/'  according  to 
thy  holy  will,  for  "  I  will  sing  nnto  the  Lord  as  long  as  I  live;  I 
wiil  sing  praise  to  my  God  while  I  have  my  being;  my  meditation 
of  him  shall  be  sweet;  I  will  be  glad  in  the  Lord;"  *'  remember  me,  0 
Lord,  with  the  favor  that  thou  bearest  unto  thy  people;  0  visit  me 
with  thy  salvation;"  "I  will  greatly  praise  the  Lord  with  my  mouth; 
yea,  I  will  praise  him  among  the  multitude."  '' I  will  praise  the 
Lord  with  my  whole  heart  in  the  assembly  of  the  upright,  and  in 
the  congregation "  of  the  people  let  me  praise  him.  "I  love  the 
Lord,  because  he  hath  heard  my  voice  and  my  supplications;  because 
he  hath  inclined  his  ear  unto  me,  therefore  will  I  call  upon  him  as 
long  as  I  live,"  wherefore  "  return  unto  thy  rest,  0  my  soul,  for  the 
Lord  hath  dealt  bountifully  with  thee,"  therefore  saith  my  spirit, 
'■'1  will  walk  before  the  Lord  in  the  land  of  the  living,"  and  ''what 
shall  I  render  unto  the  Lord  for  all  his  benefits  toward  me?  I  will 
take  the  cup  of  salvation,  and  call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord. 
Blessed  be  his  name  forever.     Amen! 

After  I  had  landed  at  this  port,  I  devoted  the  three  following  days 
to  resting,  to  writing,  and  reading,  to  the  improvement  of  my  health, 
iind  to  quiet,  religious  meditation  and  retirement  of  spirit. 

The  31st,  being  First-day,  and  a  time  long  to  be  remembered  by 
me,  strong  was  my  prayer  and  supplication  to  the  good  Shepherd  of 
Israel,  that  the  work  of  sanctitication  may  more  and  more  progress 
in  me,  till  all  within  me  may  come  to  be  assimilated  to  his  holy  and 
divine  will;  knowing  that  I  have  his  "treasure,"  that  of  the  Chris- 
tian religion  "in"  an  "earthen  vessel,  that  the  excellency  of  the 
power  may  be  of  God,  and  not  of"  myself,  let  me  therefore  go  forth 
while  in  this  world,  "  always  bearing  about  in  the  body  the  dying  of 
the  Lord  Jesus,  that  the  life  also  of  Jesus  might  be  made  manifest " 
more  and  more  in  this,  my  body,  which  is  clothed  upon  with  much 
infirmity,  in  Avhich  I  a;:,ain  and  again  do  "groan  earnestly,  desiring 
to  be  clothed  upon  with  "  that  "  house  which  is  from  heaven."  May 
the  God  of  mercy  and  love  keep  me  on  every  hand,  and  preserve  me 
on  all  occasions  through  all  to  the  end  into  his  glorious,  peaceful, 
and  everlasting  kingdom.  Amen.  I  this  morning  attended  the  meet- 
ing of  Friends  at  Southampton,  where  I  met  upwards  of  fifty  Friends, 
mostly  in  the  younger  walks  of  life,  among  whom  a  good  refreshing 
season  under  divine  mercy  was  granted,  and  in  the  evening  I  held  a 
public  meeting  for  the  citizens  of  this  town  in  the  splendid  Victoria 
room.  Several  hundred  people  attended  this  meeting,  who  were 
very  still  and  quiet,  among  whom,  under  the  baptizing  power  of  the 
.  Lord,  the  great  doctrine  of  Christianity  was  in  degree  thrown  open 
to  the  admiration  of  many  minds.     Praised  be  the  Lord  forever. 

Ninth  month  1st.  I  awoke  this  morning  with  feelings  of  grati- 
tude to  him  of  whom  the  whole  family  in  heaven  and  earth  is 
named,  and  with  Christian  love  toward  the  whole  family  of  man, 
and  under  renewed  consideration  of  divine  mercy  toward  man,  and 


t»94:  .lOUKNAI.    OF   THOMAS    AKXETT.  mt 

the  gracious  dealings  of  divine  Providence  toward  me  all  my  life 
long.  The  language  of  my  heart  was  poured  forth  in  this  tender 
and  very  humble  strain:  "I  will  praise  thee  with  uprightness  of 
heart,  when  I  shall  have  learned  thy  righteous  judgments;  I  Nvill 
keep  thy  statutes;  0,  forsake  me  not  utterly!  "  "With  my  whole 
heart"  ''  I  sought  thee,"  and  found  thee,  in  the  day  of  the  merci- 
ful conviction  and  drawing  of  thy  good  spirit  in  the  spirit  of  my 
mind.  "0,  let  me  not"  now  "Avander  from  thy  commandments," 
for  "thy  word  have  I  hid  in  mine  heart,  that  I  might  not  sin  against 
thee.  Blessed  art  thou,  0,  Lord,  teach  me  thy  statutes,"  for  "  I 
will  meditate  in  thy  precepts,  and  have  respect  unto  thy  ways;  I 
will  delight  myself 'in  thy  statutes;  I  will  not  forget  thy  word." 
"  Open  thou  mine  eyes,  that  I  may  behold  wonderful  things  out  of 
thy  law;"  for  in  many  instances  ''  I  am  a  stranger  in  the  earth;  " 
therefore,  "hide  not  thy  commandments  from  me,''  for  "my  soul 
cleaveth  unto  the  dust.  Quicken  thou  me  according  to  thy  word,"' 
for  "I  have  declared  my  ways,  and  thou  heardest  me.  Teach  me 
thy  statutes,  make  me  to  understand  the  way  of  thy  precepts,  so 
shall  I  talk  of  thy  wondrous  works."  Remember  the  word  unto 
thy  servant,  upon  which  thou  hast  caused  me  to  hope,"  for  this  is 
my  comfort  in  my  affliction;  for  thy  word  hath  quickened  me," 
and  "  it  is  good  for  me  that  I  have  been  afflicted,  that  I  might 
learn  thy  statutes;"'  for  "  the  law  of  thy  mouth  is  better  unto  me 
than  thousands  of  gold  and  silver."  Therefore,  "let  thy  tender  mer- 
cies come  unto  me,  that  I  may  live,  for  thy  law  is  my  delight."' 
"Quicken  me,"  therefore,  "after  thy  loving  kindness,  so  shall  I 
keep  the  testimony  of  thy  mouth;  forever,  0,  Lord,  thy  word  is 
settled  in  heaven,'"  and  "unless  thy  law  had  been  my  delight,  I 
should  then  have  perished  in  mine  affliction.  I  will  never  forget 
thy  precepts,  for  with  them  thou  hast  quickened  me,"  oftentimes; 
therefore,  "  O,  how  love  I  thy  law;  it  is  my  meditation  all  the 
day;"  for  "thy  word  is  a  lamp  unto  my  feet  and  a  light  unto  my 
l)ath."  Therefore,  "accept,  I  beseech  thee,  the  free-will  offering 
of  my  mouth,  0,  Lord,  and  teach  me  thy  Judgments,"  for  "my 
soul  is  continually  in  my  hand,  yet  do  I  not  forget  thy  law,"  for 
"  thou  art  my  hiding  place  and  my  shield,"  therefore,  "  I  hope  in 
thy  word."  And  I  i)ray  thee  more  and  more  to  "  uphold  me  ac- 
(•(jrding  unto  thy  word,  that  I  may  live;  and  let  me  not  be  ashamed 
of  my  hope,"  but  "  hold  thou  me  up,  and  1  shall  be  safe,  and  I 
will  have  respect  unto  thy  statutes  continually,"  for  thy  testimonies 
are  wonderful,  therefore  doth  my  soul  keep  them.  The  entrance 
of  thy  word  giveth  light,  it  giveth  u!iderstanding  unto  the  simple. 
I  o])ened  my  mouth  and  i)anted,  for  I  longed  for  thy  command- 
ments. Look  thou  upon  me,  and  be  merciful  unto  me,  as  thou  usest 
to  do  unto  those  that  loved  thy  name.  Order  my  steps  in  thy  word, 
and  let  not  any  iniquity  have  dominion  over  me; "  for  "  mine  eyes 
prevent  the  night   watches,  that   I   might  meditate  in  thy  word. 


1851  JOUKXAL   OF   THOMAS    AKNiri'T.  395 

Hear  my  voice  tieeording  to  tliy  loving  kindness;  <),  Lord,  ({uicken 
me  according  to  thy  judgment;"  and  "  consider  mine  affliction, 
and  deliver  me  "  more  and  more  from  the  evil,  ''for  I  do  not  forget 
thy  law.  Plead  my  cause,  and  deliver  me '"  in  the  day  of  tempta- 
tion, and  more  and  more  "  quicken  me  according  to  thy  word,"' 
and  let  my  cry  come  near  before  thee,  0,  Lord.  Give  me  under- 
standing according  to  thy  word,"  and  let  my  supplication  come 
before  thee,"  and  preserve  me  "according  to  thy  Avord."  In  all 
my  goings  forth  while  in  time,  "  I  Avill  lift  up  mine  eyes  unto  the 
hills,  from  whence  cometh  my  help,''  for  "  my  help  cometh  from 
the  Lord,  which  made  heaven  and  earth."  And  "in  my  distress 
I  cried  unto  the  Lord,  and  he  heard  me"  from  heaven,  his 
lofty  habitation,  and  his  mercy  and  protection  are  extended  to 
all  his  faitliful  and  devoted  children  in  every  age  of  the  world, 
even  to  those  who  are  contrite  and  humble  inspirit.  For  thus  saith 
the  high  and  lofty  one  that  inhabiteth  eteruity,whose  name  is  holy: 
I  dwell  in  the  high  and  holy  place,  with  him  also  that  is  of  a  con- 
trite and  humble  spirit,  to  revive  the  spirit  of  the  humble,  and  to 
revive  the  heart  of  the  contrite  ones."  And  I  feel  l)efore  him, 
under  a  renewed  sense  of  his  highness  and  holiness,  that  "  I  am  a 
worm,  and  no  man."  I  feel  that  I  am  willing  to  suffer  anything 
that  may  tend  to  magnify  his  great  and  holy  name.  And  I  feel 
oftentimes,  in  this  day,  very  solitary  in  spirit  before  him,  having 
now  no  dear  and  near  companion  of  my  bosom  in  this  world.  My 
bereavement  in  regard  to  the  loss  of  my  dear  and  precious  compan- 
ion in  life  s]irang  up  this  dayl)efore  me  under  deep  renewed  weight 
of  spirit  and  mucli  mourning  of  heart;  siie  having  now  one  year 
ago  gone  into  a  glorious  and  ha])py  eternity,  and  I  am  still  left 
behind  in  this  tribulated  world  a  little  longer,  to  fill  up  my  meas- 
ure of  suffering.  I  beseech  thee,  0,  Lord,  everlasting  God,  more 
and  more  mercifully  to  cause  all  things  that  befall  me  to  work 
together  for  my  good;  keep  me  daily  under  thy  mercy  and  protec- 
tion, and  let  all  my  future  life  be  devoted  to  thy  cause  and  to  thy 
glory,  and  let  thy  will  in  all  things,  and  not  mine,  be  done. 
Amen. 

In  the  morning  of  this  day  I  held  a  meeting  at  Fordingbridge 
for  friends  and  others,  which  was  well  attended,  wherein  a  very 
solemn  warning  went  forth  in  gospel  love  to  those  who  were  under 
sin,  spending  their  precious  time  in  the  pleasure  and  vanity  of 
this  fallen  world,  to  whom,  also  the  way  was  pointed  out  to 
attain  to  conversion  and  holiness  of  heart;  the  sincerely  engaged 
in  the  way  of  life  and  salvation  were  also  much  encouraged  to  hold  out 
faithful  to  the  end,  so  as  to  be  accounted  worthy  to  receive  the 
crown  immortal.  This  was  a  very  solemn  meeting,  and  ended 
under  much  religious  impression. 

The  2nd.  I  this  evening  held  a  public  meeting  in  the  city  of 
Salisbury,   in  the  Baptist  chapel;    about  500  people  attended,  of 


21)6  JOL'KNAL   Ol-    THOMAS    AKNKTT.  1851 

various  religious  persuasions,  among  whom  the  testimony  of  the 
glorious  and  everlasting  gospel  went  forth  in  a  manner  as  renew- 
ed ly  to  unite  them  one  to  another  in  the  unity  of  the  spirit  in 
the'  bond  of  peace.  This  was  a  very  solemn  and  impressive  meet- 
ing, wherein  the  truth  reigned  over  all.  Many  hearts  were  reached 
and  broken  down  into  tenderness  and  contrition,  and  the  next  day 
I  spent  quietly  at  a  friend's  house  in  writing  and  meditation. 

The  4th,  I  this  day  again  attended  the  Monthly  Meeting  of 
Friends  at  Southampton,  where  I  again  with  feelings  of  humility 
,  and  thankfulness  met  Avith  my  dear  and  sympathizing  friends 
John  Mason  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth  Mason,  who  were  glad  again 
to  see  me  in  this  country,  and  after  passing  through  the  service  of 
this  meeting  with  them,  to  good  satisfaction,  I  took  my  very  affec- 
tionate leave  of  them  in  mutual  gospel  sympathy,  and  went  on 
board,  in  company  with  several  friends,  of  the  British  mail  steamer 
f(»r  the  Isle  of  Wight,^where  I  was  lauded,  after  one  hour's  very 
])leasant  sail,  at  Westcowes,  and  went  home  immediately  with  my 
kind  and  dear  friend  Thomas  Pierce,  of  ISTewport,  at  Avhose  house 
I  spent  the  two  following  days  in  reading,  writing,  resting  a  little, 
and  in  meditation. 

The  7th.  I  this  morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at 
Newport,  (this  being  the  First  day  of  the  week,)  wherein  I  met 
about  twenty  friendly  people,  a  number  of  whom  were  our  mem- 
bers. There  being  but  a  very  few  Friends  on  this  Island,  and  these 
few  hold  their  meetings  for  worship  at  this  place;  we  this  morning 
w^ere  a  little  refreshed  together. 

In  the  evening  I  held  a  public  meeting  for  the  citizens  of  this 
town,  in  the  Queen's  room.  About  five  hundred  people  came  to- 
gether, among  whom  the  water  of  life  and  salvation  was  offered 
freely  in  a  degree  of  that  love  which  death  can  never  extinguish. 
Many  hungry  and  thirsty  souls  were  refreshed  in  this  meeting,  and 
sinners  were  solemnly  warned  betimes  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to 
come,  and  to  lay  hold  on  the  only  refuge  of  salvation,  the  blessed 
mediator  l)etween  God  and  man.  This  meeting  solemnly  closed 
with  prayer  and  thanksgiving  to  the  Lord. 

The  8th.  I  this  day  ])asscd  through  some  deep  and  weighty  ex- 
ercises of  mind,  my  spirit  was  much  cast  down  and  mourned  with- 
in me,  and  the  language  of  my  heart  was,  ''Out  of  the  depths  have 
I  cried  unto  thee  0  Lord — Lord  hear  my  voice;  let  thine  ears  be  at- 
tentive to  the  voice  of  my  supplication.  If  thou,  Lord,  shouldest 
mark  iniquities,  0  Lord,  who  shall  stand. ^ — but  there  is  forgivings 
with  thee,  that  thou  mayest  be  feared.  I  wait  for  the  Lord,  my 
poul  doth  wait,  and  in  his  word  do  I  hope;  my  soul  waiteth  for  tht; 
Lord,  more  than  they  that  watch  for  the  morning;  I  say  more  than 
they  that  watch  for  the  morning,"  because  he  alone  can  guide  and 
preserve  me  in  the  ]>ath  of  truth,  judgment  and  righteousness. 

In  the  evening  I  held  a  meeting'  at  Brixton,  in  the  Bible  Chris- 


■iSal  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKXETT.  297 

tians'  chapel.  About  a  hundred  people  attended,  generally  of  tlie 
poor  laboring  class,  who  appeared  to  be  serious  in  spirit,  and  desir- 
ous to  receive  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it;  among  whom  I  was  much 
favored  in  gospel  ministry,  and  in  prayer  to  their  humility  and  edi- 
fication. All  the  praise  is  forever  due  to  the  Good  Shepherd  of 
Israel. 

The  9th.  I  this  evening  held  a  meeting  at  Brook,  in  the  Bible 
Christians'  chapel,  where  I  met  about  a  hundred  people,  some  of 
whom  were  serious  and  religious,  and  others  of  them  were  much 
unconcerned  in  regard  to  their  present  and  eternal  well-being.  The 
language  of  the  truth,  however,  went  forth  suitably  to  all  the  states 
in  the  meeting,  so  that  under  divine  mercy  this  was  made  a  pretty 
good  refreshing  season.     Praised  forever  be  the  Lord! 

The  10th.  I  this  evening  held  a  meeting  at  Newbridge,  in  the 
Bible  Christians'  chapel,  where  about  a  hundred  and  fifty  people 
came  together,  generally  with  sincere  desire  to  be  instructed  in  the 
■way  of  life  and  salvation,  and  their  desire  was  mercifully  answered; 
for  the  power  of  an  endless  life  eminently  prevailed  in  this  meet- 
ing, under  the  blessed  influence  thereof  every  soul  present  ap- 
peared to  be  humbled  as  in  dust  and  ashes,  my  mouth  being 
■opened,  and  my  heart  much  enlarged  in  gospel  love  toward  this 
company,  who  were  generally  of  the  laboring  class.  This  meeting 
€nded  with  prayer  and  thanksgiving  to  the  author  of  all  our  sure 
mercies;  and  on  the  next  day  I  again  attended  the  little  meeting  of 
Friends  at  Newport,  where  I  only  met  ten  Friends,  among  whom  I 
was  much  comforted. 

The  13th.  I  this  evening  held  a  trying  meeting  at  Guuville,  in 
the  Bible  Christians  chapel.  About  a  hundred  people  attended, 
among  whom  generally  the  life  of  true  religion  was  low.  There 
were,  however,  some  serious  exercised  minds  among  them,  but 
there  were  a  number  of  them  who  manifested  much  unionism  in 
regard  to  their  present  and  eternal  well-being,  and  some  of  them 
appeared  to  have  no  solidity  about  them,  who  manifested  such  un- 
becoming behavior  that  they  had  to  be  publicly  reproved  in  order 
to  keep  up  sobriety  in  the  meeting.  I  mourned  in  my  spirit  over 
this  company,  till  at  length  the  warning  testimony  of  truth  was 
given  to  me  for  them,  and  after  the  delivery  of  which  I  felt  clear  of 
them;  and  the  next  day  I  spent  in  reading,  writing  and  meditation. 

The  14th,  being  First-day,  and  a  time  of  much  divine  favor.  I 
this  morning  again  met  the  few  Friends  at  Newport,  being  in  num- 
ber twelve  persons  present,  who  were  in  a  good  degree  refreshed 
and  united  together  in  love  and  unity. 

In  the  evening  I  held  a  meeting  at  Ryde,  in  tlie  Methodist  chapel. 
About  seven  hundred  people  attended  this  meeting,  mostly  relig- 
ious professors,  among  whom  remarkable  quietness  and  Christian 
sobriety  prevailed,  and  way  opened  for  me  in  the  spring  of  gospel 
love,  to  labor  among  them  to  their  humilitv  and  edification.     I  be- 


298  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AllNETT.  issr 

lieve  that  every  soul  in  this  meeting  was  visited  and  solemnized  by 
the  presence  of  him,  who  alone  can  touch  the  heart  and  soften  it, 
so  as  to  prejxire  it  in  true  and  saving  faith,  for  the  effectual  receiv- 
ing the  seed  of  immortal  life.  This  meeting  closed  under  a  very 
precious  covering  with  prayer  and  thanksgiving  to  him  who  alone 
is  worthy  of  all  the  praise  in  the  heaven  and  in  the  earth,  and  the 
next  day  I  spent  peacefully  and  quietly  at  my  lodging  in  writings 
reading  and  in  meditation. 

The  loth.  T  this  morning  renewedly  desired  Avith  secret  prayer 
and  supplication,  to  be  more  and  more  dedicated  to  the  will  of  God 
in  all  things,  and  that  he  may  ever  direct  my  steps  in  truth  and 
righteousness,  and  under  a  sense  of  my  infirmity  and  short-coming 
before  him,  my  spirit  cried  out  in  this  language,  "  0  Lord,  I  know 
that  the  way  of  man  is  not  in  himself  ;  it  is  not  in  man  that  walk- 
eth  to  direct  his  steps;  0  Lord,  correct  me,  but  with  judgment, 
not  in  thine  anger,  lest  thou  bring  me  to  notliing  ; "  for  it  is  alone 
on  the  ground  of  thine  adorable  mercy  tiiat  I  can  find  acceptance 
with  thee. 

In  the  evening  I  held  a  meeting  at  Chale,  in  the  Methodist 
chapel,  where  I  met  a  about  a  hundred  and  twenty-five  sober- 
minded  and  well-disposed  people,  who  aj^peared  to  be  desirous  re- 
newedly to  be  instructed  in  the  way  of  life  and  salvation;  and  mer- 
cifully their  desire  was  answered,"  for  the  language  of  truth  went 
forth  among  them  in  the  demonstration  of  the  spirit  and  with 
power.     Praised  forever  be  the  name  of  God ! 

The  17th.  I  awoke  this  morning  under  much  bodily  indisposi- 
tion. I  was  much  cast  down  in  my  mind;  my  spirit  mourned  with- 
in me,  and  supplicated  for  the  renewal  of  divine  strength,  so  as  to 
be  enabled  to  go  forth  according  to  the  pointing  of  divine  wisdom. 

In  the  evening  I  held  rather  a  trying  meeting  at  Chillertou,  in 
the  Methodist  chapel,  where  I  met  about  a  hundred  people,  among 
whom  a  number  a})peared  to  be  sincerely  engaged  in  the  way  of  life 
and  salvation,  but  others  were  under  sin  and  transgression.  I  Avas 
unable  to  discharge  my  duty  before  them  in  the  labor  of  the  gospel 
in  much  weakness  of  body  and  mind,  and  so  took  my  leave  of 
them. 

The  18th.  I  suffered  much  this  day  in  body  and  mind;  my 
health  continuing  to  be  poor,  and  much  discouragement  assailed 
me,  so  that  it  was  a  low  time  with  me.  I  was,  however,  in  a  good 
degree  preserved  in  Christian  patience  and   resignation  to  God. 

In  the  evening  I  held  a  meeting  at  Blackwater,  in  the  Methodist 
chapel.  A1)out  a  hundred  and  fifty  people  attended,  mostly  those 
in  tlie  younger  walks  of  life,  among  whom  the  call  of  the  everlast- 
ing gospel  went  forth  to  their  humility  and  edification. 

The  two  following  days  I  spent  at  my  lodging  under  skillful  medi- 
cal attention,  being  so  afflicted  in  my  stomach  and  bowels,  that 
such  attention  became  necessary,  under  the  application  of  which, 
through  divine  mercy  my  health  became  again  improved. 


1851  JOl'UN'AL    OF    THOMAS    AIHSTETT.  29(> 

The  21st  being  First-day,  although  I  was  weak  in  body,  yet  mer- 
cifully and  thankfully  I  was  able  to  attend  an  appointed  meeting  in 
the  evening  at  West  Cowes,  held  in  the  town  hall,  where  I  met 
about  three  hundred  respectable  people,  among  whom  out  of  weak- 
ness I  was  made  strong  in  preaching  the  glad  tidings  of  the  gos- 
pel, to  the  warning  of  the  nominal  professors  of  Christianity,  and 
to  the  benefit  of  practical  Christians.  This  meeting  ended  to  very 
good  satisfaction;  and  the  next  day  I  spent  at  my  lodging  in  quiet- 
ness and  resting  for  the  improvement  of  my  health. 

The  23rd.  I  this  morning  renewedly  desired  with  prayer  and 
supplication,  more  and  more  to  be  dedicated  to  the  righteous  cause 
of  him  "that  is  ready  to  judge  the  quick  and  the  dead  ;"  and  in 
looking  to  him  in  true  and  saving  faith  this  language  was  revived 
in  me  under  a  deep  concern  that  it  may  be  attendant  more  and 
more  upon  all  my  pilgrimage  life  :  '''In  the  morning  sow  thy  seed, 
and  in  the  evening  withhold  not  thine  hand,  for  thou  knowest  not 
which  shall  prosper,  either  this-  or  that,  or  whether  botii  shall  be 
alike  good  ;"  therefore  let  me  more  and  more  go  forth  in  his  name, 
sowing  the  seed  of  his  glorious  gospel,  keeping  "on  the  armor  of 
light,"  and  being  armed  under  the  power  of  the  cross,  "by  the 
word  of  truth,  by  the  power  of  God,  by  the  armor  of  righteousness 
on  the  right  hand  and  on  the  left ;"  and  let  me  keep  "on  the  whole 
armor  of  God,"  that  I  "may  be  able  to  stand  against  the  wiles  of 
the  devil ;"  for  I  wrestle  not  only  "against  flesh  and  blood,"  but 
against  many  temptations  of  various  kinds,  both  within  and  with- 
out ;  wherefore  let  me  "  take  the  helmet  of  salvation,  and  the  sword 
of  the  spirit,  which  is  the  word  of  God,"  praying  always  with  prayer 
and  supplication  for  my  preservation  on  every  hand. 

In  the  evening  I  held  a  meeting  in  the  long-room,  at  East  Cowes 
Park.  About  two  hundred  and  fifty  people  attended,  which  was  a 
very  mixed  congregation,  including  a  number  of  soldiers  of  the 
Queen's  Guard,  who  were  attentive  and  sober,  and  through  the 
light  of  everlasting  gospel,  this  was  made  a  glorious  and  luminous 
meeting  ;  the  mercy  of  God  was  extended  toward  this  company 
under  the  blessed  influence  of  which  it  appeared  to  me  that 
every  heart  present  was  opened  to  receive  the  whole  truth  in  the 
love  of  it.  The  sincerely  engaged  in  the  way  of  prayer  and  salva- 
tion received  much  encouragement  to  hold  on  their  way  to  the  end, 
and  sinners  were  warned  to  flee  betimes  from  tlie  wrath  to  come, 
and  to  seek  the  salvation  of  their  precious,  never-dying  souls. 

The  24th.  I  this  day,  after  passing  through  much  exercise  of 
mind,  attended  with  prayer  and  supplication  to  the  Almighty  Cre- 
ator for  my  safety  and  preservation  on  every  hand,  held  in  the 
evening  a  meeting  at  Wootton,  in  the  Methodist  chapel,  where  I 
met  about  a  hundred  and  twenty-five  serious-minded  and  sober- 
>  spirited  people,  among  whom  the  truth  of  the  gospel  went  forth  to 
their  humility,  tenderness  and  edification.     I  thought  that  in  some 


300  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  1861 

small  degree,  that  every  heart  present  was  reached  and  softened  by 
the  finger  of  him  who  alone  can  touch  the  heart  and  pardon  sin  and 
transgression  :  praised  forever  be  his  great  name,  for  he  is  alone 
worthy. 

The  25th.  I  was  this  day  renewedly  brought  under  much  con- 
cern and  weight  of  spirit  with  sincere  supplication  to  the  Good 
Shepherd  of  Israel  for  my  preservation  on  every  hand  ;  remember- 
ing many  instances,  the  many  deep  and  sore  trials  through  which  I 
luive  passed  since  I  turned  my  face  Zionward,  and  even  in  these 
days  I  oftentimes  have  to  go  forth  in  the  work  of  the  gospel  with 
"great  heaviness  and  continual  sorrow  in  my  heart,"  feeling  sensi- 
ble that  I  have  now  no  very  sympathetic  companion  in  this  world  ; 
''but  none  of  these  things  move  me,  iieither  count  I  my  life  dear 
unto  myself,  so  that  I  might  finish  my  course  with  joy,  and  the 
ministry  which  I  have  received  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  testify  the 
gospel  of  the  grace  of  God  ;"  and  I  know  that  as  I  keep  my  place 
while  in  this  world,  in  strict  watchfulness  unto  prayer,  that  then 
neither  "  highth  nor  depth,  nor  any  other  creature,  shall  be  able  to 
.separate"  me  "from  tlie  love  of  God  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus,"  my 
Lord,  and  my  holy  and  adorable  Saviour. 

In  the  evening  I  held  a  meeting  at  Lamb's  lease,  in  the  Independ- 
ent chapel,  where  I  met  about  a  hundred  serious-minded  people, 
mostly  professors  of  Christianity,  among  whom  the  great  and  im- 
])ressive  duty  of  divine  worship  was  opened  and  iliustrated  with 
that  authority  which  solemnize  every  mind  ])resent.  This  was  a 
good  and  glorious  meeting,  and  one  that  will  long  be  remembered 
by  a  number  to  their  benefit. 

The  two  following  days  I  devoted  very  much  to  religious  retire- 
ment, to  reading,  to  writing,  and  to  meditation  ;  the  hand  of  God 
being  upon  me,  so  that  the  language  of  my  heart  was  :  "  0  Lord, 
thou  hast  searched  me  and  know  me,  thou  knowest  my  down-sitting 
and  mine  uprising  ;  tliou  understandest  my  thoughts  afar  olf,"  for 
thou  triest  me  oftentimes  both  without  and  witliin  ;  "thoucom- 
jiasseth  my  path,  and  lying  down,  and  art  acquainted  with  all  my 
ways  ;"  and  tliou  keepest  me  on  every  hand  both  day  imd  night, 
"for  there  is  not  a  word  in  my  tongue,  but  lo,  0  Lord,  thouknow- 
vst  it  altogether,"  for  thou  knowest  all  things  ;  thou  hast  often- 
times "beset  me  behind  and  before,  and  laid  thine  hand  upon  me," 
and  brought  me  down  before  thee  as  in  dust  and  ashes  ;  tlien  I  felt 
poor  and  needy,  when  I  beheld  in  degree  tlie  beauty  of  thy  holiness 
and  thy  glorious  and  wondrous  majesty.  "Such  knowledge  is  too 
wonderful  for  me  ;  it  is  high,  I  caniu^t  attain  to  it,"  for  "how  un- 
searchable are"  thy  "judgments,  and"  tliy  "  ways  })ast  finding  out." 
"0  Jjord,  my  strength,  and  my  fortress,  and  my  refuge  in  the  day 
ol'  affliction,"  I  beseech  thee  to  have  mercy  upon  me  when  I  am 
brougiit  very  low,  and  when  I  am  surrounded  with  temptations  of 
various  kinds,  for  I  fear  and  love  thee  with  the  whole  heart,  and  in 


1851  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS   AKNETT.  301 

the  opening  of  thy  love,  and  through  the  drawing  of  tliy  good 
spirit,  ''I  will  praise  thee,  for  I  am  fearfully  and  wonderfully 
made  ;  marvellous  are  thy  works,  and  that  my  soul  knoweth  right 
well ;"  "how  precious  also  are  thy  thoughts  unto  me,  0  Clod,  how 
great  is  the  sum  of  them  ;  if  I  should  count  them,  they  are  more  in 
number  than  the  sand  ;  when  I  awake  I  am  still  with  thee;"  where- 
fore, "  search  me,  0  God,  and  know  my  heart ;  try  me,  and  know 
my  thoughts ;  and  see  if  there  be  any  wicked  way  in  me,  and  lead 
me  in  the  way  everlasting;"  and  direct  all  my  steps  while  I  walk  in 
time,  and  finally  when  it  shall  please  thee,  gather  me  into  thy  glo- 
rious and  everlasting  kingdom.  "  I  said  uiito  the  Lord,"  in  the 
depth  of  humility  of  spirit,  "thou  art  my  God  ;  hear  the  voice  of 
my  supplication,  0  Lord,  0  God,  the  Lord,  the  strength  of  my  sal- 
vation, thou  hast"  oftentimes,  "covered  my  head  in  the  day  of 
battle,"  and  given  me  the  victory  in  thine  everlasting  truth  ;  and 
"  I  know  that  the  Lord  will  maintain  the  cause  of  the  afflicted  and 
the  right  of  the  poor,"  therefore,  so  long  as  I  keep  my  place, 
under  the  weight  and  the  power  of  the  cross  before  him,"  he  will 
mercifully  maintain  my  cause  and  my  right,  for  I  am  oftentimes 
deeply  afflicted  in  spirit,  and  feel  very  poor ;  let  me,  therefore, 
thank  God,  and  take  fresh  courage  in  the  way  of  liis  good  and 
righteous  cause  ;  for  "surely  the  righteous  shall  give  thanks  unto 
thy  name  ;  the  upright  shall  dwell  in  thy  presence  ;"  wherefore,  let 
me  more  and  more  dwell  in  thy  good  presence,  and  thank  thee  for 
all  thy  merciful  dealings  unto  my  soul. 

I  said,  "Lord,  I  cry  unto  tliee  :  make  haste  unto  me  ;  give  ear 
unto  my  voice  when  I  cry  unto  thee  ;  let  my  prayer  be  set  forth 
before  thee  as  incense,  and  the  lifting  up  of  my  hands  as  the  even- 
ing sacrifice  ;  set  a  watch,  0  Lord,  before  my  mouth  ;  keep  the 
door  of  my  lips ;"  and  more  and  more  deliver  me  from  everything 
that  would  hurt  or  destroy  in  thy  holy  mountain  ;  and  "  let  the 
righteous  smite  me,  it  shall  be  a  kindness  ;  and  let  him  reprove  me, 
it  shall  be  an  excellent  oil,  which  shall  not"  hurt  me,  but  let  thy 
mercy  attend  me  in  all  my  ups  and  downs,  for  "  mine  eyes  are  unto 
thee,  0  God,  the  Lord,  in  thee  is  my  trust ;  leave  not  my  soul  des- 
titute," but  "hear  my  prayer,  0  Lord,  give  ear  to  my  supplica- 
tion,in  thy  faithfulness  answer  me,  and  in  thy  righteousness,"  for 
I  oftentimes  "  meditate  on  all  thy  works.  I  muse  on  the  work  of 
thy  hands  ;"  according  to  the  opening  of  thy  good  spirit,  and  in 
my  prayer  "I  stretch  forth  my  hands  unto  thee,  my  soul  thirsteth 
after  thee,  as  a  thirsty  land  ;""^  cause  me  to  hear  thy  loving  kindness 
in  the  morning,  for  in  thee  do  I  trust ;  cause  me  to  know  the  way 
wherein  I  should  walk,  for  I  lift  up  my  soul  unto  thee  ;"  "teacii 
me  to  do  thy  will,  for  thou  art  my  God  ;  thy  spirit  is  good  ;  lead 
me  into  the  land  of  uprightness,"  and  "I  will  speak  of  the 
glorious  honor  of  thy  majesty,  and  of  thy  wondrous  works ;"  and 
"my  mouth  shall  speak  the  praise  of  the  Lord  ;  and  let  all  flesh 


30-^  JOUHXAL    OF    THOMAS    ARN'ET'l  1851 

bless  his  holy  name  forever  and  ever ;"  sing  praises  unto  my  God 
while  I  have  any  being;"  for  all  the  praise  is  alone  his  due  forever- 
more.     Amen. 

The  28th.  Being  First-day,  and  a  season  of  much  divine  power 
with  me,  I  again  this  morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at 
Newport,  Avhere  I  met  fifteen  Friends,  among  whom  I  was  drawn 
forth  m  prayer  and  supplication,  to  good  satisfaction.  In  the  even- 
inff  I  held  a  public  meeting  at  Ventnor,  in  the  Bible  Christians* 
chapel.  About  three  hundred  people  attended  this  meeting,  who 
were  generally  under  religious  impression;  and  their  hearts  being- 
open  to  receive  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it,  therefore  the  glorious 
and  everlasting  gosjiel  was  preached  among  them  in  the  demonstra- 
tion of  the  spirit,  and  with  power.  I  believe  that  every  one  of  ma- 
ture age  in  this  meeting  Avas  visited,  and  in  degree  humbled  as  in 
dust  and  ashes.  The  sincerely  engaged  were  much  encouraged  in 
the  way  of  a  holy  life,  and  sinners  were  called  to  repentance  and 
amendment  of  life.  This  meeting  very  solemnly  closed  w'ith  prayer 
and  supplication  to  him  who  is  the  author  of  all  our  sure  mercies, 
and  after  the  conclusion  thereof,  a  number  of  sincere  -  hearted 
Christians  surrounded  me,  with  tears  and  brokenness  of  heart,  and 
manifested  toward  me  the  tenderest  gospel  sympathy,  so  that  finally 
we  parted  in  a  degree  of  that  love  which  death  can  never  extinguish. 

The  29th.  I  this  evening  held  a  meeting  at  Niton,  in  the  Bap- 
tist chapel,  where  I  met  about  two  hundred  people,  who  appeared 
to  be  generally  sober-minded,  religious  professors,  among  whom  I 
was  much  set  at  liberty  in  the  free  love  of  the  gospel.  Divine  truth 
eminently  reigned  in  this  meeting,  to  the  "casting  down  imagina- 
tions and  every  high  thing  that  exalteth  itself  against  the  knowl- 
edge of  God,  and  bringing  into  captivity  every  thought  to  the  obe- 
dience of  Christ."  After  the  conclusion  of  this  meeting,  a  number 
of  sincere-hearted  Christians  gave  me  the  right  hand  of  fellowship, 
and  desired  my  encouragement  in  the  work  of  the  public  ministry. 

The  30th.  1  was  this  day  brought  renewedly  under  deep  exercise 
of  mind,  wherein  I  earnestly  desired  more  and  more  while  in  this 
world  to  be  a  faithful  partaker  "of  Christ's  sufferings,"  going  forth 
"bearing  His  rei)roach,"  "that  when  His  glory  shall  be  revealed," 
I  "may  be  glad  also  with  exceeding  great  joy,"  and  that  "the  spirit 
of  glory  and  of  God "  may  rest  upon  me,  knowing  that  without 
him,  my  blessed  Saviour,  I  can  do  nothing  that  will  advance  his  glo- 
rious cause  of  truth  and  righteousness  in  the  earth.  Let  me,  there- 
fore, under  all  my  sufferings,  place  my  entire  dependence  on  him, 
and  look  to  him  alone  in  true  faith  for  direction  and  counsel  in  the 
work  of  the  word  of  his  ministry  imparted  to  me  mercifully  for  the 
good  of  souls. 

In  the  evening  I  held  a  meeting  at  Whitwell,  in  the  Bible  Chris- 
tians' chapel, where  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  sober-minded  and 
well-inclined  })e()ple  attended,  among  whom  I  was  much  opened 


IS.M  JOUKNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKXETT.  ;3()o 

under  the  free  mercy  of  God  in  pointing  out  the  way  of  life  and 
salvation  ;  and  it  a})peared  to  me  that  these  of  this  company  were 
generally  reached,  even  to  shedding  of  tears.  All  the  praise  is  alone 
due  to  him  who  willeth  not  the  death  of  a  sinner. 

Tenth  mo.  1st.  I  was  this  day  so  delightfully  impressed  with  a 
rencAved  sense  of  the  past  mercy,  condescension,  deliverances,  and 
and  the  protection  of  the  Lord  Almighty  to  me,  that  I  devoted  it 
very  much  alone  before  him  in  retirement,  and  in  writing  and  med- 
itation; and  the  language  of  my  heart  was:  "Now  will  I  sing  to 
my  well-beloved  a  song  of  my  beloved  touching  his  vineyard:  my 
well-beloved  hath  a  vineyard  in  a  very  fruitful  hill;  and  he  fenced  it, 
and  gathered  out  the  stones  thereof,  and  planted  it  with  the  choic- 
est vine,  and  built  a  town  in  the  midst  of  it,  and  also  made  a  wine 
press  therein;"  and  he  hath  long  since  sent  me  into  his  vineyard  to 
be  a  laborer;  and  0  that  I  may  ever  be  faithful  to  all  his  openings 
and  shuttings,  so  as  to  be  preserved  on  every  hand  to  the  glory  of 
his  worthy  name!  ''Behold,  God  is  my  salvation;  I  will  trust  and 
not  be  afraid,  for  the  Lord  Jehovah  is  my  strength  and  my  song: 
He  also  is  become  my  salvation."  "With  my  soul  have  I  desired 
Thee  in  the  night,  yea,  with  my  spirit  within  me  will  I  seek  Thee 
early,"  and  continually  ;  for  according  to  thy  mercy  and  judgment 
••Thy  dead  men  shall  live:  together  with  my  dead  body  shall  they 
arise,"  even  in  the  glorious  morning  of  the  resurrection  of  the  just; 
therefore,  "0  Lord,  be  gracious  unto  me  I"  I  "have  waited  for 
Thee,  be  Thou"  my  "aim  every  morning,"  and  my  "salvation  also 
in  the  time  of  trouble;"  for,  "0  Lord  God  of  hosts,  God  of  Israel, 
that  dwellest  between  the  cherubims,  Thou  art  the  God,  even  Thou 
alone  of  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth;  Thou  hast  made  heaven 
and  earth;  incline  thine  ear,  0  Lord,  and  hear;  open  thine  eyes, 
0  Lord,  and  see!"  And  hear  all  the  sincere  cry  of  my  heart,  for 
thou  knowest  that  I  lovo  thee,  and  that  I  seek  daily  to  do  thy  will 
in  all  things,  and  all  the  praise  is  thine,  both  now  and  forevermore. 
Amen. 

The  three  following  days  with  me  were  a  delightful  season.  This 
portion  of  time  I  also  spent  very  much  alone,  in  resting,  in  read- 
ing, in  writing  and  in  meditation,  "The  peace  of  God  which  pass- 
eth  all  understanding"  sweetly  pervading  the  spirit  of  my  mind,  so 
that  I  was  renewedly  encouraged  to  follow  Him  "which  maketh  a 
way  in  the  sea,  and  a  path  in  the  mighty  waters,"  and  "Who  hath 
measured  the  waters  in  the  hollow  of  His  hand,  and  meted  out  the 
heaven  with  the  span,  and  comprehended  the  dust  of  the  earth  in  a 
measure,  and  weighed  the  mountains  in  scales,  and  the  hills  in  a 
balance;  who  covereth  himself  with  light  as  with  a  garment;  who 
stretcheth  out  the  heavens  like  a  curtain;  who  layeth  the  beams  of 
His  chambers  in  the  waters;  who  maketh  the  clouds  His  chariot; 
who  walketh  upon  the  wings  of  the  wind;  who  maketh  His  angels 
spirits.  His  ministers  a  flaming  fire;"  who  is  "clothed  with  honour 


;304  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  iSSt 

and  majesty;"  "who  laid  the  foundations  of  the  earth,  that  it 
should  not  be  removed  forever;"  and  "who  only  hath  innnortality 
dwelling  in  the  light  which  no  man  can  approach  nnto;  whom  no 
man  hath  seen  or  can  see;  to  whom  be  honor  and  power  everlast- 
ino-."  And  "  Whom  shall  He  tfeach  knowledge  ?  and  Avhom  shall 
He  make  to  understand  doctrine?  Them  that  are  weaned  from  the 
milk,  and  drawn  from  the  breasts/'  even  those  whom  he  Justifies 
and  sanctifies  "by  the  washing  of  regeneration  and  renewing  of  the 
Holy  Ghost;"  on  whom  He  sheds  his  light  abundantly  and  inspires 
them  through  his  good  spirit,  and  leads  them  in  the  way  of  "the 
path  of  the  just,"  which  "is  as  the  shining  light  that  shineth  more 
and  more  unto  the  perfect  day." 

And  let  me  more  and  more  while  in  this  world  walk  with  him 
in  this  path  under  the  cross,  so  as  to  grow  in  grace,  and  more  and 
more  learn  doctrine. 

The  5th,  being  First-day,  and  a  season  of  eminent  favor.  I  was 
clothed  upon  this  day  with  renewed  deep  and  fervent  concern,  under 
which  my  spirit  traveled  for  the  eternal  salvation  of  precious  and 
immortal  souls  ;  all  my  fellow  beings  feeling  near  and  dear  to  me  in 
a  degree  of  that  love  which  casteth  out  fear,  and  which  visits  man 
from  generation  to  generation  for  his  present  and  eternal  well 
being. 

In  the  evening  I  held  a  public  meeting  at  St.  Helens,  in  a  chapel 
room  built  through  benevolence  for  Christian  service  of  the  various 
Christian  denominations,  called  "The  Evangelical  Alliance."  A 
mixed  congregation  of  about  five  hundred  people  attended,  among 
whom  I  was  largely  opened  in  the  illustration  of  the  Christian  doc- 
trine, and  it  appeared  to  me  that  the  window  of  heaven  Avas  opened 
upon  us,  and  that  the  heavenly  dew  was  distilled  upon  this  company 
to  their  humility  and  cdificatioij,  so  that  all  present  appeared  in 
some  degree  to  be  merged  into  the  spirit  of  the  glorious  and  ever- 
lasting gospel;  all  the  praise  is  alone  due  to  him,  "  who  was  delivered 
for  our  offenses,  and  was  raised  again  for  our  justification,"  who  is 
worthy  forevermore. 

After  this  meeting  I  went  a  little  while,  through  a  kind  invita- 
tion, to  the  house  of  Edward  Dawes,  who  is  a  member  of  the  British 
Parliament,  and  he,  his  wife,  and  children  belong  to  the  Church  of 
Enghmd;  and  wliile  I  was  with  this  very  interesting  family,  partak- 
ing of  tlieir  tenii)oral  and  spiritual  refreshment,  I  felt  that  I  was 
among  the  children  of  God.  They  manifested  the  tenderest  Chris- 
tian sym})atliy  for,  and  with  me,  and  gave  me  the  right  liand  of 
feUowslii]),  and  much  encouraged  me  to  be  faithful  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  tlie  mission  of  tiie  gospel  imparted  to  me.  This  case  is  a 
renewed  evidence  to  me,  in  addition  to  many  others  of  tlie  same 
nature,  with  which  I  have  met  in  my  travels,  that  God  has  upright 
chihlren  in  every  Christian  and  evangelical  denomination. 

Tlie  Gth.     I  tliis  evening  held  a  meeting  at  Casisbrook,  in  a  chape! 


V851  JOURiSrAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT,  305 

room  built  tliruugli  benevolence  for  the  aecomniodiition  of  the 
various  Christian  denominations,  who  desire  to  hold  meetings  for 
divine  worship  therein.  About  a  hundred  people  attended,  among 
whom,  after  sitting  awhile  in  silence  under  deep  concern,  I  was 
enabled  to  rise  and  declare  to  them  the  glad  tidings  of  the  gospel  of 
praise  to  their  humility  and  thankfulness. 

The  7th.  I  this  morning  renewedly  felt  my  entire  dependence  on 
the  great  head  of  the  church  for  strength,  wisdom,  and  utterance, 
to  enable  me  to  go  forth  in  his  name  so  as  to  be  instrumental  in 
promoting  his  good  and  peaceable  reign  in  the  earth,  and  earnest 
was  my  prayer  to  him,  that  he  might  more  and  more  sanctify  his 
work  through  me  to  the  glory  of  his  name  and  to  the  benefit  of  his 
l)eople,  and  also  to  the  calling  of  sinners  to  repentance  and  amend- 
ment of  life.  In  the  evening  I  held  a  meeting  at  Wellow,  in  the 
Baptist  chapel,  where  about  a  hundred  people  met  me  with  a  sincere 
desire  to  be  instructed  in  the  way  of  life  and  salvation,  which  desire 
was  at  length  mercifully  answered,  my  mind  being  much  set  at 
liberty  among  them  in  the  freedom  of  the  love  of  the  gospel  to  their 
edification  and  thankfulness. 

The  8th.  I  this  evening  held  a  meeting  at  Ningwood,  in  the 
Primitive  Methodist  chapel,  where  about  a  hundred  serious-minded 
and  seeking  people  met  me  with  a  sincere  desire  to  be  benefited  and 
helped  in  the  good  old  way  to  eternal  happiness,  and  we  mutuallv 
settled  down  in  a  degree  of  true  faith  in  the  dear  son  of  God;  he  at 
length,  in  his  own  time,  mercifully  remembered  us,  and  through 
the  baptizing  power  of  the  water  of  everlasting  life,  our  souls  were 
much  refreshed,  and  made  glad  and  thankful  in  his  great  and  worthv 
namej  and  this  precious  meeting  very  solemnly  closed  with  prayer 
and  siipplication  to  him. 

My  visit  on  this  island,  I.believe,  was  mutually  of  a  very  interest- 
ing nature,  in  the  prosecution  thereof  I  generally  met  the  ministers 
with  their  leading  members  of  the  chapel  where  I  held  meetings 
after  the  service  thereof  was  over,  with  whom  I  had  very  interesting- 
interviews,  they  giving  me  the  right  hand  of  fellowsliip,  manifesting 
for,  and  with  me,  tliewtirmest  and  most  afliectionate  Christian  sym- 
l)athyand  unity,  and  encouraged  me  very  much  to  be  faithful  to' the 
end  in  the  prosecution  of  the  very  important  mission  imparted  to 
me  from  the  great  head  of  the  church  for  the  good  of  souls. 

They  oftentimes,  in  the  freedom  of  Christian  love,  would  ask  me, 
for  their  information,  the  propriety  of  those  testimonies  that 
Friends  are  called  upon  to  bear  before  the  world,  which  distinguish 
us  as  a  separate  body  of  professing  Christians  from  other  bodies  of 
Christian  denominations,  and  I  was  enabled,  I  believe,  through  the 
assistance  of  divine  grace,  to  answer  all  their  questions  to  their 
satisfaction,  convincing  them,  as  it  appeared  to  me,  in  degree,  "that 
all  our  distinguishing  views  and  practices"  are  strictly  Scriptural, 
being  those  testimonies  attendant  alone  on  the  glorious  and  ever- 


;5(l(i  JOIKXAI.    OF   THOMAS    ARXETT.  igsi 

lasting  gospel,  detached  altogether  from  the  wisdom  and  priestcraft 
of  man,  but  founded  alone  on  the  authority  of  the  Great  Head  of  the 
Church  according  to  the  Holy  Scriptures,  so  that  I  believe  that  this 
visit  upon  the  wiiole  was  calculated  not  only  in  degree  to  raise  the 
character  of  our  religious  society  in  the  estimation  of  those  whom  I 
visited  on  this  island,  but  also,  in  many  instances,  a  good  and  sweet 
impression  was  left  in  the  hearts  of  many  tender,  precious.  Christian 
and  baptized  souls,  who  poured  forth  their  tears  in  "these"  meet- 
ings under  the  bai)tizing  power  of  the  Lord,  to  whom  all  the  praise 
is  alone  due  now  and  forevermore. 

While  I  was  on  this  island  in  the  prosecution  of  my  religious  visit, 
I  lodged  most  of  the  time  at  the  house  of  my  kind  and  dear  friend. 
Thomas  Pierce,  who,  with  his  dear  Avife  and  children,  manifested 
toward  me  all  becoming  Christian  kindness  and  sympathy.  He  was 
very  useful  and  instrumental  in  calling  up  "these"  meetings  for 
me  held  on  this  island,  and  he  was  also  acceptably  my  companion  in 
attending  "these"'  meetings  with  me.  He  appears  to  be  one  of 
good  standing,  and  held  in  esteem  by  the  people  generally  on  this 
island.  This  solitary  family  very  much  keeps  up  the  little  meeting 
of  Friends  at  Newport,  being  the  only  regular  attendants  thereof, 
oftentimes  going  forward  and  sitting  alone  therein;  and  when 
Friends  visit  this  island  on  any  occasion,  they  generally  go  and  sit 
with  them,  there  being  but  a  very  few  other  Friends  who  perma- 
nently reside  on  this  island.  While  I  was  with  this  interesting  and 
affectionate  family,  I  could  but  very  much  admire  the  Christian 
order  thereof;  their  simplicity,  their  plainness  of  dress  and  address, 
and  their  concern  of  the  reading  of  a  suitable  portion  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures  both  morning  and  evening,  with  a  subsequent  pause, 
being,  as  I  believe,  very  beneficial  and  praise  worthy. 

The  yth.  I  this  day,  after  again  attending  the  little  meeting  of 
Friends  at  Newport,  and  taking  my  very  affectionate  leave  of  them, 
left  this  island  for  Southampton,  where  I  landed  in  the  evening, 
after  having  a  pleasant  sail  on  board  of  a  steamer  of  about  one  hour, 
and  on  the  next  day,  m  the  evening,  I  held  a  large  and  highly 
favored  meeting  at  Komsey,  in  the  Independent  chai^el,  where  the 
everlasting  truth  reigned  over  all.  so  that  many  ])rccious,  sincere, 
and  bai)tized  souls  were  deeply  humbled  and  much  editied  in  the 
doctrine  of  the  glorious  gospel  of  peace  and  salvation.  Magnified 
forever  be  the  great  Creator! 

The  11th.  1  this  day  traveled  to  Alton,  and  the  next  day  being- 
First-day,  I  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  there,  in  the  morning, 
with  whom  I  had  a  good  refreshing  season,  and  in  the  evening  1 
held  a  large  and  crowded  meeting  there,  wherein  I  was  much  set  at 
liberty  in  pointing  out  the  way  of  happiness  and  eternal  glory. 
Truth  reigned  over  all  on  this  occasion,  and  many  souls  were  reached 
and  humbled  down  as  in  dust  and  ashes,  and  the  name  of  God  was 
magnified.     All  the  praise  is  alone  due  to  him  now  and  forever  ! 


1851  JOURN'AL    OK   THUM.VS    AllNETr.  odi' 

The  loth.  I  devoted  this  day  to  writing  and  in  visiting  some 
families  of  Friends  to  mutual  satisfaction  ;  wherein  deep  and  fer- 
vent was  my  concern  to  be  inore  and  more  faithful  in  the  discharge 
of  my  religious  duty  in  the  prosecution  of  the  mission  of  the  gospel, 
weightily  resting  upon  me  both  day  and  night ;  feeling  reneioedly 
the  very  great  responsibility  attached  to  this  mighty  concern,  and 
earnest  Avas  my  prayer  and  supplication  to  the  Author  of  all  my 
sure  mercies,  without  whom  I  can  do  nothing  that  will  advance  his 
glorious  kingdom  of  peace  and  righteousness  in  the  earth,  that  he 
may  afiU  go  before  me  in  this  great  work,  which  is  his  and  not 
mine,  mercifully  opening  the  way  for  me  all  my  appointed  time  in 
a  manner  as  no  man  can  shut  the  opening  of  his  door  against  me, 
for  vain  is  the  help  of  man,  so  that  I  oftentimes  feel  that  I  have 
none  to  depend  upon  but  my  blessed  Sa^dour  in  going  forth  in  sup- 
port of  his  cause,  bearing  his  reproach,  oftentimes  with  very  deep 
humility  of  soul,  spirit  and  body. 

On  the  next  day  in  the  evening  I  held  a  good  and  pleasant  meet- 
ing at  Basingstoke,  for  Friends  and. others,  which  was  well  attended 
by  serious-minded  people,  among  whom  the  testimony  of  the  glo- 
rious and  everlasting  truth  went  f(jrth,  to  the  humility  and  comfort 
of  many  tender  and  baptized  souls.  Praised  be  the  Lord  forever 
more  I 

The  15th.  I  spent  this  day  very  much  quietlii  at  a  friend's  house, 
except  visiting  a  few  families  of  Friends  to  mutual  benefit  and  sat- 
isfaction, my  health  being  poor,  so  that  a  little  rest  and  quiet 
appeared  to  be  necessary  for  me.  I  was  this  day  deeply  impressed 
reneiuedlii  with  a  desire  for  a  more  enlarged  understanding  in  the 
wisdom  of  God,  feeling  a  renewed  sense  of  my  ignorance  in  regard 
to  the  things  of  eternity,  and  the  doctrine  of  life  and  salvation, 
wherefore  my  prayer  to  God  was:  ''  I  beseech  thee,  0  holy  and  eter- 
nal One,  to  have  mercy  upon  me  from  day  to  day,  for  I  am  j)oor 
and  needy,  and  I  am  not  worthy  of  the  least  of  thy  notice  and  pro- 
tection, but  for  thy  work's  sake,  and  for  the  good  of  souls,  morn, 
and  noon  I  pray  thee  to  open  my  mouth  and  enable  me  to  deliver 
the  message  of  thy  gospel  according  to  thy  will,  and  enlarge  my 
heart  in  thy  love,  that  I  may  go  forth  in  thy  name  with  renewed 
authority  from  time  to  time,  so  as  to  be  made  instrumental  in  point- 
ing out  the  doctrine  of  life  and  salvation,  and  directing  the  people 
ro  tlie  right  ^m/A  of  a  glorious  and  happy  eternity,  for  the  work  in 
which  I  am  engaged  is  alone  thine  ;  therefore  sustain  it  in  my  hand, 
to  the  glory  of  thy  name  and  to  the  benefit  of  the  people,  for  thine 
alone  is  the  glory  now  and  forever.  Amen." 

On  the  next  day  in  the  morning  I  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends 
at  Basingstoke,  as  it  came  in  course,  where  I  met  a  little  interesting 
company  of  Friends,  among  whom  I  was  much  comforted,  and  in 
the  evening  I  held  a  meeting  in  the  city  of  Winchester,  in  the  City 
Hall.     Although  this  meeting  was  not  very  large,  yet  those  attend- 


:]()S  .lOUHXAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  i*>r 

iiig  a  little  retiring  in  spirit,  with  a  desire  to  be  instructed  in  the 
gospel,  we  were  therefore  mercifully  remembered  by  the  Great  Head 
of  the  Church.  My  mind  being  much  opened  in  the  illustration  of 
the  doctrine  of  life  and  salvation,  not  only  to  my  own  admiration, 
but  to  the  humility  and  edification  of  those  who  were  before  me. 
Praised  be  God  forever  ! 

The  17th.  I  this  evening  held  a  meeting  at  Ringwood,  in  a  house 
formerly  occupied  by  Friends  for  a  meeting-house,  but  no20  fitted 
for  a  Methodist  chapel,  there  being  7ioio  no  Friends  residing  in  this 
town.  This  meeting  was  well  attended  by  sober,  serious-minded 
people,  over  whom  the  baptizing  power  of  the  Lord  ^vas  felt  to  be 
prevalent,  to  the  melting  down  of  many  hearts  iiito  tenderness,  con- 
trition and  thankfulness.  This  meeting  solemnly  closed  with  prayer 
and  supplication  to  the  Author  of  all  our  sure  mercies. 

The  18th.  I  this  day  traveled  by  coach  conveyance  about  twenty- 
five  miles  to  Shaftsbury,  and  the  next  day  being  First-day,  I 
attended  in  the  morning  the  meeting  of  Friends  there,  where  I  met 
only  ten  friends,  among  whom  I  was  much  comforted,  the  Divine 
|)resence  being  prevalent  among  us,  uniting  us  in  a  feeling  of  unity 
and  sympathy  in  Christian  fellowship. 

In  the  evening  I  held  a  public  meeting  for  the  people  of  this 
town,  which  was  largely  attended  by  people  of  various  Christian 
denominations,  among  whom  the  gosjDcl  of  peace  was  preached  in 
that  demonstration  and  power  as  to  reach  to  the  good  seed  and  chain 
the  evil  down.  The  power  of  an  endless  life  prevailed  in  this  meet- 
ing, so  that  under  the  baptizing  power  of  the  Lord,  all  Avho  were 
[)resent  appeared  to  be  humbled  down  as  into  dust  and  ashes. 
Praised  be  the  name  of  the  Lord  forever  I 

The  2()th.  I  devoted  this  day  very  much  to  religious  retirement, 
desiring  very  much  to  be  alone.  "  Remembering  mine  aflfliction,"  and 
my  trials  in  former  time,  ''  my  soul  hath  them  still  in  remembrance, 
and  is  humbled  in  me ;  this  I  call  to  my  mind,"  with  the  remem- 
brance of  the  manifestation  of  Divine  mercy  upon  me  all  my  life 
long,  "therefore  have  I  hoi)e;"  knowing  that  "it  is  of  the  Lord's 
mercies  that  I  am  not  consumed,  because  his  compassions  fail  not, 
they  are  new  every  morning  ;  great  is  thy  faitbfulness.  The  Lord 
is  my  portion,  saitli  my  soul,  therefore  will  I  hope  in  Him."  And 
let  all  that  is  Avithin  me  praise  and  exalt  his  great  and  worthy  name, 
and  let  me  also  so  walk  before  him  while  in  time  as  finally  to  be 
accounted  worthy  to  attain  unto  the  glorious  resurrection  of  the 
just,  so  as  to  reign  with  him  forevermore,  for,  "thou,  0  Lord, 
remaincst  forever,  thy  throne  from  generation  to  generation,"  and 
thy  mercy  is  manifested  in  this  world  from  age  to  age,  and  iliinc 
alone  is  the  praise,  both  now  and  forevermore  !     Amen. 

The  21st.  I  this  evening  held  a  deeply  interesting  meeting  at 
Gillingharn,  in  the  Temperance  Hall.  About  five  hundred  people 
attended  tliis  meeting,  among  whom  the  power  of  an  endless  life 


1851    .  JOUllNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  309 

])revailecl,  and  unto  whom  the  door  of  the  spring  of  everlasting  life 
opened,  to  the  benefit  and  comfort  of  man}' precious  and  sincere  souls. 
0  my  God,  inspire  me  more  and  more  with  gratitude  toward  thee 
for  these  wonderful  favors  to  the  people,  through  me,  thy  poor, 
slender  and  unworthy  servant,  for  I  oftentimes  feel  that  I  am  one  of 
the  lowest  and  poorest  of  thy  flock,  and  I  am  not  worthy  of  the  least  of 
thy  mercy  and  grace,  because  1  formerly  sinned  so  much  against  thee, 
in  the  day  of  my  vanity,  when  I  went  on  in  my  own  way,  grieving 
thy  good  spirit  from  time  to  time,  and  it  is  through  thy  mercy  and 
grace  alone  that  I  am  still  in  the  land  of  the  living,  being  clothed 
upon  with  much  infirmity,  daily  feeling  my  entire  dependence  on 
thee  for  every  blessing  that  I  stand  in  need  of  I  Let  me  more  and 
more  suffer  patiently  according  to  thy  will  while  I  am  in  this  sinful, 
fallen  world,  so  as  I  may  through  suffering  in  thy  name  come  to  be 
perfectly  sanctified  in  soul,  spirit  and  body,  so  that  finally  I  may 
reign  with  thee  forever  and  ever,  for  I  have  never  done  anything 
to  merit  thy  salvation,  for  it  is  alone  on  the  ground  of  thy  free 
mercy  that  I  can  be  saved  with  an  everlasting  salvation!  Thine  is 
the  glory  now  and  forever  !     Amen. 

The  22nd.  I  this  morning  attended  the  little  meeting  of  Friends 
at  Marnhull, which  was  a  low  and  trying  time,  wherein  I  felt  sensi- 
ble that  there  was  a  want  of  a  more  lively  feeling  among  these  few 
Friends.  In  the  evening  I  held  a  public  meeting  there,  which  was 
largely  attended  by  many  serious-minded  people,  and  which  ap- 
peared to  be  crowned  with  immortal  life.  I  was  abundantly  set  at 
liberty  in  the  opening  of  the  gospel  in  this  meeting,  to  the  edifica- 
tion of  many  sincerely-engaged  souls. 

The  23rd.  I  this  morning  attended  meeting,  much  to  my  com- 
fort, with  the  few  Friends  of  Wincanton,  and  in  the  evening  I 
held  a  public  meeting  there,  in  the  town  hall,  which  was  largely 
attended  by  people  of  various  religious  persuasions,  who,  in  the 
fore  part  thereof,  were  very  much  unsettled  in  their  minds; 
Avherein  a  sincere  prayer  was  secretly  raised  in  me  for  the  breathing 
forth  of  divine  mercy  and  grace  on  this  company,  which  at  length 
was  graciously  answered,  so  that  I  thought  that  this  meeting  ended 
in  degree  to  the  glory  of  God.     Blessed  forever  be  his  holy  name! 

The  24th.  I  uaveled  this  day  about  twenty  miles  to  Strut, 
where  on  the  next  day  I  rested  quietly  at  a  friend's  house.  My 
mind  this  day  being  much  turned  heavenward,  so  that  the  lan- 
guage of  my  heart  was,  with  prayer  and  suiiplieation,  let  me  give  a 
regular  time  every  night,  when  retiring  for  bodily  rest,  to  self-ex- 
amination. 0  God,  make  me  to  live  to  thy  glory;  may  I  be 
clothed  more  and  more  with  the  armor  of  religion;  may  I  grow 
deeper  and  deeper  in  the  right  princijjles  and  practice  of  thy  Son's 
gospel;  and  as  years  roll  over  my  head,  may  I  withdraw  my  affec- 
tions from  time,  and  feel  that  in  moving  through  this  world  I  am 
moving  towards  eternity.     0  God,  may  I  grow  in  grace,  and  feel 


310  .lOURXAL    OF   THOMAS    AKXETT.  1851 

more  and  more  the  sovereign  efficacy  of  a  Cliristian  faith,  in  giv- 
ing consolation  to  my  lieart  and  purity  to  my  obedience."  Dissi- 
l)ate,  0  Lord,  as  it  may  please  thee,  the  cloud  which  oftentimes 
overhangs  my  own  feelings,  and  let  me  grow  brighter  and  brighter 
in  the  knowledge  of  thine  everlasting  truth,  and  let  thy  will  con- 
cerning me  in  all  things  be  done.     Amen. 

Tlie  3Cth  being  First-day,  and  a  season  of  much  divine  favor. 
I  this  morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at  Strut,  Avhere  I 
met  a  very  interesting  company  of  Friends,  among  whom  I  was 
much  drawn  in  gospel  sympathy,  to  their  comfort;  and  in  the 
evening  I  held  a  public  meeting  there,  where  I  met  a  large,  pro- 
miscuous congregation  of  jDcople,  who  manifested  a  desire, with  much 
Christian  sobriet}^,  to  be  instructed  in  the  way  of  life  and  salvation, 
whose  desire  was  mercifully  answered:  for  it  appeared  to  me  tluit 
the  fountain  of  the  Avater  of  life  was  freely  opened  to  this  company, 
so  that  I  thought  that  every  soul  present  was  visited,  in  degree, 
to  benefit  and  edification.  Praised  forever  be  the  name  of  the 
Lord! 

The  27tli.  I  spent  this  day  very  much  in  writing  and  in  medi- 
tation, and  also  in  the  latter  part  of  the  day  I  met  about  twenty- 
five  young  Friends  of  Strut,  with  feelings  of  much  interest,  with 
whom  I  had  an  interview  in  a  free,  social  manner,  on  divers  sub- 
jects, to  very  good  satisfaction;  and  on  the  next  day  in  the  even- 
ing I  held  a  large  meeting  at  Glastonbury,  in  a  meeting-house  for- 
merly belonging  to  Friends,  but  now  occupied  by  the  people  called 
the  "Plymouth  Brethren."  Those  who  attended  this  meeting 
manifested  much  solidity  and  sobriety,  among  whom  the  testimony 
of  truth  went  forth,  to  the  softening  and  the  comforting  of  many 
hearts.     Magnified  forever  be  the  grace  of  God! 

The  29th.  I  this  morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at 
Long  Sutton,  as  it  came  in  course,  where  I  met  twelve  interesting- 
Friends,  with  whom  I  was  much  comforted;  and  in  the  evening 
I  held  a  meeting  at  Somerton,  in  the  Independent  chapel,  where  1 
met  about  a  hundred  Christian-spirited  })eople,  among  whom  I  was 
drawn  forth  in  that  gospel  sympathy  which  tends  more  and  more 
to  unite  the  believers  of  the  Christian  churches  in  the  unity  of  the 
spirit,  in  the  bond  of  peace.  This  was  a  good,  refreshing  meeting, 
and  ended  with  j^rayer  and  supplication  to  the  Lord. 

The  oOth.  I  this  evening  held  a  meeting  for  Friends  and  others 
at  Yeovil,  where  I  met  about  a  hundred  serious-minded  people, 
among  whom  my  mind  was  much  opened  in  the  illustration  of  the 
great  duty  of  divine  Avorship,  to  edification  and  comfort.  Magiii- 
fied  forever  be  tlie  name  of  the  Lord! 

The  olst.  I  this  day  traveled  by  coach  conveyance  upwards  of 
twenty-five  miles,  through  a  beautiful  and  interesting  country,  to 
'J'aunton.  My  mind  being  much  impressed  with  the  sweetness  of 
Christian  hive  in  l)cbolding  the  beautiful  scenery  before  me  this 


1851  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    AHXETT.  311 

day  in  passing  along  in  my  travel;  whereupon,  in  my  meditation, 
the  language  of  my  heart  was,  '^How  vast,  yea,  illimitable,  is  the 
field  of  knowledge!  embracing  an  acquaintance  with  the  everlasting 
(rod,  the  creator  and  upholder  of  all  things,  and  witli  the  works 
of  his  hands,  animate  or  inanimate,  intelligent  or  irrational,  from 
man,  his  noblest  piece  of  workmanship  (in  this  lower  world),  to 
the  meanest  insect  that  flatters  in  the  air;  from  the  glorious  orb  of 
day  to  the  sands  upon  the  sea-shore;  and  from  the  plants  to  the 
germinating  herbage  of  the  earth.  Let  me  more  ami  more  humble 
myself,  and  seek  to  grow  in  his  grace.  In  beholding  his  wondrous 
works  let  his  love  more  and  more  inspire  me  with  holy  devotion.  He 
can  mercifully  clear  the  mists  from  the  intellect,  and  remove  the  ob- 
scurity from  the  mental  vision.  Opening  the  window  of  the  soul, 
he  can  pour  in  such  a  stream  of  light  and  radiance  as  shall  chase 
away  the  night.  And  let  his  holy  spirit  more  and  more  guide  me 
in  the  way  of  truth  and  righteousness.  All  the  praise  is  his  due, 
now  and  forever.     Amen. 

Eleventh  month  1st.  I  awoke  this  morning  under  feelings  of 
very  deep  humility,  so  that  I  thought  that  it  became  my  duty  to 
spend  this  day  very  much  in  retirement  and  alone,  the  hand  of  God 
being  so  very  weightily  upon  me  as  to  cause  me  renewedly  to  fear 
and  tremble  before  him  under  a  sense  of  my  own  utter  unworthi- 
ness,  and  in  recounting  in  degree  my  past  trials,  besetments  and 
deep  tribulations,  in  connection  with  the  man}^  merciful  deliver- 
ances wrought  for  me  through  his  condescension,  protection 
and  providence.  I  became  inspired  with  secret  prayer  and  sup- 
lication,  more  and  more  to  dedicate  myself  wholly  to  his  glorious 
and  good  cause  while  in  this  world,  so  as  to  enjoy  him  eternally  in 
tiie  blessed  and  happy  world  to  come.  May  all  the  praise  be  given 
to  him  alone,  both  now  and  forevermore,  for  he  is  worthy! 

The  2nd  being  First-day,  I  this  morning  attended  the  little 
meeting  of  Friends  at  Taunton,  among  whom  a  merciful  oppor- 
tunity was  granted  through  the  opening  of  divine  love,  and  in  the 
evening  I  held  a  public  meeting  there,  which  was  well  attended  by 
a  respectable,  sober-minded  company  of  people,  among  whom  I  was 
much  opened  in  the  demonstration  of  the  strain  of  gospel  love 
and  with  power,  to  the  humility  and  comfort  of  many  hearts.  All 
the  praise  alone  is  due  to  the  Lord. 

The  3rd.  I  this  day  went  to  Bridgewater,  and  on  the  next  day 
in  the  morning  I  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  there,  where  I 
met  twenty- five  well-concerned  Friends,  among  whom  I  was  much 
drawn  out  in  gospel  sympathy,  to  good  satisfaction:  and  in  the 
evening  I  held  a  public  meeting  there,  where  I  met  about  live 
hundred  people,  among  whom  the  warning  and  the  instruction  of 
the  gospel  went  forth,  to  the  humility  and  benefit  of  all  who  were 
present.  Christian  solemnity  pervaded  this  meeting,  which  closed 
under  feelings  of  thankfulness. 

While  here  I  received  the  followino^  kind  and  affectionate  letter 


;rr2  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKNETT.  t851 

from  a  dear  friend  whom  T  never  saw,  being  not  able  to  go  to  meet- 
ing because  of  bodily  indisposition. 

Taunton,  11th  month,  2nd,  1851. 

Dear  Friend :  Thou  wilt  doubtless  be  surprised  to  receive  a  few 
lines  from  under  my  pen,  for  I  am  quite  a  stranger  to  thee;  but  I 
have  thought  of  and  felt  so  much  for  thee  to-day,  that  I  believe  I 
mav  be  most  comfortable  just  in  this  way  to  tell  thee  so,  for  I  have 
nothing  in  contemplation  to  write  about;  bat  under,  I  humbly  trust, 
a  degree  of  that  precious  influence  which  wishes  well  to  the  whole 
human  race,  and  which  particuhu-ly  seems  to  bind  one  to  those  who 
are  about  their  dear  Master's  business,  and  who  are  willing  to 
spend  and  be  spent  in  his  cause,  which  I  do  believe  is  dearer  to 
thee  tluin  houses  and  land,  corn,  Avine  or  oil,  or  all  that  this  world 
(.■an  give.  May  he,  my  dear  friend,  preserve  thee,  in  thy  stepping 
along  through  this  pilgrimage  state  to  the  end,  both  over  sea  and 
land.  Thou  knowest,  my  dear  friend,  that  he  is  no  hard  Master; 
tliat,  although  at  seasons,  thy  faith  may  be  closely  tried,  even  as  to 
a  hair's  breadth,  yet  his  power  is  the  same  that  ever  it  was;  he 
giveth  strength  to  them  that  are  ready  to  faint,  he  is  the  same  yes- 
terday, to-day,  and  forever.  01  he  is  a  God  hearing  and  answer- 
ing, prayer.  Thou  hast,  no  doubt,  oftentimes  experienced,  but 
there  are  seasons  at  times  permitted,  even  to  his  devoted  followers, 
something  like  the  heavens  being  like  brass  and  the  earth  like  iron. 
Yet,  0  yet,  notwithstanding  he  may  appear,  in  infinite  wisdom, 
thus  to  hide  his  face  as  for  a  moment,  he  will,  yes,  my  dear  friend, 
be  will  again  return  and  give  unto  these  "^  the  oil  of  joy  for  mourn- 
ing, the  garment  of  praise  for  the  spirit  of  heaviness."  I  know 
not  Avhy  I  am  thus  led  in  my  sympathy  toward  thee;  perhaps  it  may 
be  a  time  of  singing  and  rejoicing  vith  thee.  Do  please  excuse  me. 
for  I  feel  very  desirous  not  to  do  any  harm  with  my  pen.  I  am 
aware  that  I  am  a  poor,  unworthy  one,  and  I  often  shrink  from  ex- 
])03ure  in  this  way;  but  if  thou  knew  how  much  thou  hast  been  my 
mental  companion  this  day,  and  the  sympathy  attending  my  feel- 
ings for  ami  witli  thee,  with  desires  that  thou  mayest  be  helped  and 
strengthend,  so  as  to  be  enabled  to  advocate  the  dear  Kedcemer's 
cause,  thou  wouUlest,  I  am  sure,  accept  this  my  sympathy  toward 
thee  in  love.  May  the  blessed  Savior  more  and  more  strengthen  thy 
hands  to  war  and  thy  fingers  to  figlit;  thou  hast  oftentimes  proved 
him  to  be  thy  battle-axe  and  shield,  also  thy  sun  and  sure  defense. 

I  am  prevented,  through  bodily  indisposition,  from  meeting  with 
my  friends  in  a  collective  capacity;  but,  thanks  be  to  Israel's  She])- 
herd,  for  he  condescends  at  seasons  to  be  near,  even  to  such  a  very 
])oor  creature  as  I  know  myself  to  be.  (),  he  continues  to  be  very 
gracious,  long-sulfering,  and  full  of  compassion,  even  to  the  hin- 
dermost  of  the  flock.  Now,  in  conclusion,  saith  my  spirit,  may 
celestial  rain  aiul  heavenly  dew  rest  on  thee  and  shine  more  and 
more.     This  is  the  desire,  at  this  time,  of  thy  sincei'e  friend, 

Mauy  Gower. 


mi  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  313 

The  oth.  I  this  morning  went  to  Willington,  where  I  attended 
the  meeting  of  Friends,  as  it  came  in  course,  which  was  a  small  but 
good  meeting;  and  on  the  next  day,  in  the  evening,  I  held  a  pub- 
lic meeting  at  Milverton,  where  about  a  hundred  people  met  me, 
who  generally  aj)peared  to  be  much  unconcerned  in  regard  to  their 
eternal  well-l^eing;  but  after  sitting  with  them  a  while  under  dee}) 
concern  for  tliem,  way  opened  at  length  for  me  to  deliver  to  them 
the  warning  testimony  of  truth,  to  their  humility,  and  much  to  the 
relief  of  my  mind.     Praised  be  the  Lord  forever! 

The  7th.  I,  through  the  fore  part  of  this  day,  felt  much  broken 
down  in  spirit,  so  that  I  mourned  as  in  dust  and  ashes,  tmd  earn- 
estly desired  that  the  will  of  God  may  more  and  more  be  sanctified 
in  my  experience,  knowing  that  without  his  mercy  and  grace  I 
can  do  nothing  that  will  promote  his  good  cause  in  the  earth;  there- 
fore earnest  was  my  cry  to  him  for  the  renewal  of  his  mercy  and 
grace,  which  being  Avonderfully  granted  in  a  public  meeting  that  I 
held  in  the  evening  at  Wellington,  where  I  met  a  large,  serious  con- 
gregation of  people,  among  whom  I  was  eminently  opened  in  the 
demonstration  of  the  spirit  and  with  power,  to  the  glory  of  Grod, 
and  to  their  edification  and  comfort;  truth  reigned  over  all  in  this 
meeting.  Blessed  forever  be  the  great  and  holy  name,  who  only  is 
worthy! 

The  8th.  I  this  day  traveled  to  Sidcot,  and  the  next  day  being 
First-day,  I  attended  in  the  morning  the  meeting  of  Friends  there, 
where  I  had  to  mourn,  in  consequence  of  the  i^revalence  of  a  luke- 
warm spirit  among  them,  although  I  had  some  labor  among  them 
tending  to  awaken  them  to  more  vigilance  to  the  great  duty  of 
watchfulness  unto  prayer.  Yet  my  mind  was  not  relieved,  so  that 
after  this  meeting  I  dwelt  for  a  wJiile  much  alone,  and  poured  forth 
my  tears,  with  secret  prayer  and  supplication  on  behalf  of  our  re- 
ligious society,  under  a  sense  of  the  prevalence  in  many  instances 
of  much  self-righteousness  and  lukewarmness  within  our  borders. 
Yet  there  are  many  sincere  and  sanctified  souls  among  us.  In  the 
evening  I  held  a  public  meeting  for  Friends  and  others  of  this 
neighborhood,  where  I  met  about  five  hundred  people,  who  came 
together  rather  in  a  loose  manner.  But  after  sitting  with  them 
awhile  in  silence,  the  window  of  heaven  appeared  to  be  opened  in 
mercy  to  this  congregation,  and  the  stream  of  gosi)el  love  seemed 
to  reach  and  to  soften  every  heart  in  attendance.  The  name  of 
God  was  much  exalted  in  this  meeting,  and  I  trust  that  some  good 
and  lasting  impressions  were  formed. 

The  10th.  I  this  day,  after  visiting  some  families  of  Friends  in 
Christian  love,  held  in  the  evening  a  small  but  pretty  good  meet- 
ing at  Weston-super-Mare.  Those  who  attended  were  serious- 
minded  people,  among  whom  the  wa}^  of  life  and  salvation  was 
pointed  out,  in  a  degree  of  that  true  love  which  softens  tlie  heart 
and  prepares  it  for  receiving  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  iu  tlie  love 
of  it. 


314  JOURXAL   OF   THOMAS    AKNETT.  1852 

The  lltli.  I  this  day  traveled  to  the  city  of  Bath,  where,  in  the 
evening,  I  attended  the  ^fonthly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders  of 
Friends,  to  mutual  comfort  and  satisfaction;  and  on  the  next  day 
I  attended  in  this  city  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends  for  wor- 
ship and  discipline,  where  I  found  a  very  interesting  company  of 
Friends,  among  whom  I  was  much  set  at  liberty  in  the  love  and  in 
the  power  of  the  everlasting  gospel,  under  the  blessed  influence  of 
Avhich  Friends  were  renewedly  united  together  in  the  unity  of  the 
spirit,  in  the  bond  of  peace. 

The  13th.  I  this  evening  held  a  public  meeting  at  Chew-Magna, 
where  I  met  upwards  of  a  hundred  serious-minded  people,  upon 
whom  the  dew  of  heaven  was  distilled,  to  benefit  and  great  humility 
of  spirit.  It  appeared  to  me  that  every  soul  present  was  bowed  in 
deep  reverence  before  him  who  alone  can  touch  the  heart  and 
draw  it  to  himself  and  open  it  for  religious  instruction.  My  mind 
was  much  opened  in  gospel  love  in  this  meeting,  so  that  I  was  en- 
abled to  labor  to  the  edification  of  the  people  and  to  the  relief  of 
my  own  mind.     Praised  forever  be  the  name  of  the  Lord! 

The  14th.  I  this  day,  after  passing  through  much  exercise  of 
mind,  held  in  the  evening  a  meeting  for  Friends  and  others  at 
Claverham,  where  I  met  about  five  hundred  sober-minded  people, 
among  whom  the  light  of  the  glorious  and  everlasting  gospel  did 
shine  forth  to  the  opening  and  illuminating  of  many  precious  and 
well-concerned  souls.  Truth  gained  the  victory  in  this  meeting, 
and  all  present  ap})eared  to  be  bowed  in  solemn  reverence  befoi-e 
the  eternal  and  immortal  King,  who  is  worthy  of  all  the  praise 
both  now  and  forevermore. 

The  loth.  I  this  day  again  returned  to  the  city  of  Bath,  and 
the  next  day,  being  First-day,  I  attended  in  the  morning  the  meet- 
ing of  Friends  there,  which  was  mercifully  made  a  good,  refreshing 
season  ;  and  in  the  evening  I  held  a  public  meeting  therefor  Friends 
and  others,  where  I  met  several  hundred  people,  over  whom  the 
poAver  of  an  endless  life  eminently  prevailed,  to  the  benefit  and 
comfort  of  many  precious  and  sincere  souls.  Ble.^sed  forever  be 
the  name  of  the  everlasting  God,  who  is  worthy  above  all ! 

While  here  I  received  the  following  kind  and  very  affectionate 
letter  from  a  dear  friend  of  mine  in  America  : 

EiCHMONi),  Indiana,  10th  Mo.  loth,  1851. 
My  Dear  Friend  : 

I  have  long  had  it  in  my  mind  to  forward  a  line  to  thee,  but 
have  still  delayed  the  attempt  until  the  present  time,  under  a  hope 
that  tliou  wouldst  be  favored  with  a  word  Irom  others,  more  suited 
to  thy  bereavement  than  I  am  able  to  give.  Nevertheless,  under 
that  unity  of  sj)irit  which  has  in  bygone  days  replenished  our  hearts 
together,  and  whicli  has  oftentimes,  as  well  as  at  the  present,  been 
brought  feelingly  to  my  remembrance,  and  has  a  tendency  to 
strengthen  and  confirm  my  tribulated  spirit  in  its  wayward  course 


1881  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNTETT.  315 

through  life's  probationary  scene  ;  and  notwithstundinpj  many  days 
have  passed  away  since  it  has  been  our  precious  privilege  to  take 
sweet  counsel  together,  and  that  many  and  various  have  been  our 
conflicts  on  life's  troubled  sea,  yet  it  is  cause  for  thankfulness  that 
our  Father  in  heaven  has,  in  Jiis  condescending  goodness  and  un- 
merited mercy,  been  pleased  to  remember  us  still,  and  even  in  the 
very  midst  of  chastisement  to  pour  in  the  oil  and  the  wine,  to  stay 
the  raging  billows,  and  speak  j^eace  to  the  tribulated  and  faithful 
ones. 

My  heart  has  oftentimes  been  warmed  with  lively  feelings  and 
earnest  desires  that  he  who  j)utteth  forth  his  own  sheep  and  goeth 
before  them  may  be  thy  leader  and  thy  director  in  each  and  every 
engagement,  that  thou  thereby  mayest  be  enabled  to  declare  to  the 
people  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ  in  the  fullness  of  his 
blessed  gospel,  by  which  life  and  immortality  are  brought  to  light. 

I  have  been  brought  oftentimes  of  late  to  mourn  over  our  beloved 
and  much  tribulated  Society,  with  a  secret  fear  that  there  is  much 
to  be  dreaded  on  this  very  ground  ;  that  the  spirit  of  antichrist, 
which  has  pervaded  the  Christian  Church  again  and  again,  and 
which  was  so  boisterous  in  the  days  of  the  apostles,  must  at  this 
day  be  met  by  every  devoted  soldier  of  the  cross.  And  my  spirit 
is  at  seasons  comforted  in  believing  that  there  are,  and  I  trust  not 
a  few,  who  feel  themselves  bound  to  the  law  and  the  testimony, 
who  have  felt  the  force  of  that  command  delivered  to  the  early  be- 
lievers when  the  prison  doors  were  opened,  "  Go,  stand  and  speak  in 
the  temple  to  the  people  all  the  woi'ds  of  this  life."  It  is  these  that 
are  brought  to  know  Christ  to  dwell  in  their  hearts  by  faith,  and 
are  able  in  good  measure  to  '"'comprehend  with  all  saints  what  is 
the  breadth,  and  length,  and  depth,  and  height,  and  to  know  the 
love  of  Christ,  which  passeth  knowledge,  that"  ive  ''might  be  filled 
with  all  the  fullness  of  God."  It  was  this  that  enabled  that  emi- 
nent apostle  of  the  Gentiles  on  a  memorable  occasion  to  declare: 
"  I  take  you  to  record  this  day  that  I  am  pure  from  the  blood  of 
all  men,  for  I  have  not  shunned  to  declare  unto  you  all  the  coun- 
sel of  God." 

And  now,  dear  brother  and  fellow-laborer,  I  have  been  made  to 
believe  that  it  was  for  this  same  cause  that  we  have  been  separated, 
and  thy  lot  cast  in  a  distant  land,  where  tribulation,  sorrow  and 
anguish  have  all  been  permitted  to  be  thy  companions,  at  seasons, 
for  the  furtherance  and  perfecting  of  the  work  through  him  who 
is  head  over  all  things  to  his  church ;  therefore  the  injunction, 
"take  unto  you  the  whole  armor  of  God,  that  ye  may  be^  able  to 
withstand  the  evil  day,  and  having  done  all,  to  stand."  May  this 
be  thy  blessed  experience,  and  mayest  thou  be  favored  amidst  all 
seasons  of  trial  and  proving  to  keep  thine  eye  single  to  him  who  as 
a  father  pitieth  his  children,  and  protecteth  them  that  fear  and 
serve  him;  wherefore  let  us  look  upward  and  onward,  keeping  in 


310  JOUKNAL   OF   THOMAS    AHNETT.  J85i 

view  the  great  recompense  of  the  reward,  so  that,  when  a  few  moi'c; 
conflicts  are  ended,  we  may  also  be  by  faith  enabled  to  say,  "I  am 
now  ready  to  be  offered,  and  the  time  of  my  departure  is  now  at 
hand;  I  have  fought  a  good  fight,  I  have  finished  my  course,  I  have 
kept  the  faith;  henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of  right- 
eousness, which  the  Lord,  the  righteous  judge,  shall  give  me  at 
that  dav;  and  not  to  me  only,  but  unto  all  them  that  love  his  ap- 
pearing."    I  remain  thy 

Affectionate  friend, 

Benjamin  Fulghum. 

The  17th.  I  this  day  went  to  Calne,  and  on  the  next  day,  in  the 
nmrning,  I  attended  the  little  meeting  of  Friends  there,  as  it  came 
in  course;  and  in  the  evening  I  held  a  jiublic  meeting  there,  which 
was  well  attended  by  sober-minded  and  thoughtful  people,  among 
whom  the  glad  tidings  of  the  glorious  and  everlasting  gospel  went 
forth,  to  the  reaching  and  softening  of  nitiny  minds.  How  wonder- 
ful is  the  dealing  of  that  great  and  worthy  Being  to  man,  whose 
merciful  providence  is  over  all  his  works,  and  whose  spirit  is  given 
to  every  man  to  profit  withal  I  0,  that  men  would  praise  him  for 
his  mercy  and  for  his  wonderful  works,  for  all  the  praise  is  his  due 
in  the  heavens  and  also  in  the  earth. 

The  19th.  I  this  morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at 
Melksham,  where  I  met  a  very  interesting  company  of  Friends, 
among  whom  I  was  much  comforted;  and  in  the  evening  I  held  a 
public  meeting  there,  which  w'as  pretty  well  attended,  wherein  I 
was  much  oj^ened  in  gospel  love,  to  the  edification  and  comfort  of 
many  sincerely  engaged  souls.  Much  Christian  solemnity  prevailed 
in  this  meeting,  which  closed  to  good  satisfaction  with  prayer  to 
God. 

The  20th.  1  this  evening  held  a  public  meeting  at  Frome,  in 
the  Baptist  chapel,  where  I  met  several  hundred  people,  who  came 
together  with  hungry  and  thirsty  souls,  and  through  the  overshad- 
owing of  the  wisdom  of  the  gospel.  This  was  mercifully  made  a 
glorious  and  luminous  meeting.  All  present  appeared  to  be  bowed 
in  solemn  reverence  before  him  who  is  the  only  object  of  divine 
worship  in  the  heaven  and  also  in  the  earth.  This  was  a  precious 
and  a  refreshing  opportunity,  and  closed  Avith  many  thankful 
hearts;  and  the  next  day  I  spent  pretty  much  in  writing  and  visit- 
ing some  families  of  Friends. 

The  22nd.  I  this  day  went  to  the  city  of  Bristol,  and  the  next 
day  being  First-day,  I  attended  in  the  morning  the  meeting  of 
Friends  in  this  city,  where  I  met  about  five  hundred  people,  in- 
cluding Friends  and  others.  In  this  meeting  I  passed  tlirough 
very  deep  travail  of  soul,  in  which  I  groaned  in  sjurit  and  cried  in 
secret  sujjplication  for  an  opening,  to  be  delivered  in  degree  from 
thft  weight  of  the  concern  resting  upon  me  for  those  who  were 
before  me,  and  at  length  truth  arose  in  degree,  and  set  meat  liberty 


1851  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKNETT.  317 

very  iiincli  in  this  meeting,  so  that  I  had  some  liard  labor,  of  a 
close  and  searching  nature,  in  throwing  my  concern  upon  those  who 
were  before  me  ;  and  in  the  evening  I  again  attended  Friends* 
meeting  in  this  city,  and  their  neighbors  being  invited  at  my  re- 
quest to  attend,  it  was  therefore  a  full  meeting,  wdierein  I  was  again 
In'ought  under  very  deep  travail  of  soul,  and  trusting  alone  in  the 
power  of  an  endless  life  for  wisdom  and  strength  to  labor  for  the 
advancement  of  the  good  cause,  therefore  truth  again  at  length 
arose  in  a  good  degree  into  dominion,  so  that  I  had  renewed  cause 
to  praise  and  thank  the  great  giver  of  every  good  and  perfect 
gift  for  his  mercy  to  me  this  day. 

The  24th.  I  this  day  attended  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Ministers 
and  Elders  in  this  city,  and  on  the  next  day  I  attended  the  Monthly 
Meeting  for  worship  and  discipline  there,  where  I  found  a  large 
number  of  worthy  and  experienced  Friends,  among  whom  I  was 
much  opened  in  Christian  love.  I  felt  much  comforted  and  strength- 
ened in  this  meeting.  Friends  manifesting  that  unity  for  and  with 
me  which  tends  more  and  more  to  merge  the  saints  of  the  great 
head  of  the  church  into  the  spirit  of  the  glorious  and  everlasting 
gospel. 

The  2Gth.  I  this  day  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at 
Lawrence- Weston,  where  I  met  ten  worthy  and  intelligent  friends, 
among  whom  I  felt  much  strengthened  and  comforted. 

The  27th.  I  was  this  day  renewedly  brouglit  under  very  deep 
exercise  of  mind,  in  which  my  spirit  travailed  in  sweet  prayer  for 
my  preservation  on  every  hand.  In  the  evening  I  held  a  public 
meeting  in  the  city  of  Bristol,  where  I  met  several  hundred  religious- 
ly-inclined people,  among  Avhom  the  way  of  life  and  salvation  was 
eminently  opened  in  the  demonstration  of  the  spirit  and  with  power. 
The  name  of  God  was  exalted  in  this  meeting,  and  many  sincere  and 
precious  souls  were  much  edified  and  comforted. 

The  '^th.  I  this  evening  held  a  public  meeting  for  Friends  and 
others  at  Olveston,  which,  in  the  fore  part,  was  rather  a  trying  time, 
but  at  length  truth,  in  some  degree,  arose  to  edification,  so  that  this 
meeting,  in  a  good  degree,  ended  to  the  praise  and  glory  of  the 
great  and  eternal  name. 

The  29th.  I  this  day  went  to  Frenchay,  and  under  the  tender 
influence  of  divine  grace  manifested  in  my  mind,  this  Avas  made  a 
day  of  renewed  covenant  with  me,  the  visitation,  in  degree,  of  divine 
love  in  my  heart,  from  my  childhood  up  to  this  day,  l;eing  brought 
mercifully  before  me,  so  that  I  poured  forth  my  tears  in  considera- 
tion of  the  precious  dealings  of  Divine  Providence  to  my  soul  all 
my  life  long,  and  the  language  of  my  heart  was:  "0  Lord,  my  Sav- 
iour, continue,  I  beseech  thee,  to  preserve  and  protect  me  on  every 
hand  to  the  end  of  my  pilgrimage.  When  storms  and  oj^position 
arise  before  me,  then  interpose  for  me,  and  through  the  angel  of 
thy  2)resence  open  the  way  thy  own  self  for  the  prosecution  of  the 


318  JOURNAI,    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  1851 

mission  of  thy  glorious  gospel  now  resting  upon  me  according  to 
thy  will,  and  let  no  man,  and  nothing  else,  obstruct  thy  will  con- 
cerning me:  but  let  me  go  forth  while  in  time  in  thy  name  con- 
quering and  to  conquer,  that  I  maybe  made  mercifully  in  thy  hand 
instrumental  in  going  forth  in  thy  work,  so  as  "to  open  "  the  eyes 
of  those  who  are  yet  under  sin  and  transgression,  "and  to  turn  them 
from  darkness  to  light,  and  from  the  power  of  Satan  unto  "  thee, 
"that  they  may  receive  forgiveness  of  sin,  and  inheritance  among 
them  which  are  sanctified  by  faith  that  is  in^'  thee,  for  thou  hast 
oftentimes  mercifully  "  appeared  unto "  me  "for  this  purpose,"  and 
I  beseech  thee  more  and  more  to  sanctify  me,  that  I  may  stand 
daily  prepared  for  thy  work,  that  my  evening  sun  may  go  down 
Avith  the  crown  of  praise  and  immortality  upon  me,  and  with  the 
song  of  eternal  praise  to  thee,  "and  everhisting  joy  upon"  my 
head,  that  I  may  finally  obtain  an  inheritance  incorruptible  through 
faith  in  the  "blood  of  the  everlasting  covenant,"  so  that  "sorrow 
and  sighing  shall  flee  away"  eternally:  and  let  thy  will  in  all  things, 
and  not  mine,  be  done.     Amen. 

The  30th  being  First-day,  I  this  morning  attended  the  meeting 
of  friends  at  Frenchay,  where  I  met  upwards  of  fifty  very  interest- 
ing Friends,  being  mostly  those  in  the  younger  walks  of  life,  among 
whom  I  was  much  drawn  out  in  gospel  love  to  mutual  benefit;  and 
in  the  evening  I  held  a  public  meeting  there  for  Friends  and  others, 
which  was  largely  attended  by  many  sober-minded  people,  among 
whom  the  great  doctrine  of  Christian  redemption  was  brought  to 
view,  and  sustained  in  the  light  of  truth,  according  to  the  Holy 
Scriptures.  This  was  a  good  and  glorious  meeting,  and  ended  to 
good  satisfaction. 

Twelfth  month,  1st.  I  this  evening  held  a  public  meeting  at 
Portshead  for  Friends  and  others,  in  the  Independent  chapel,  where 
I  met  upwards  of  three  hundred  people,  among  whom  I  was  much 
opened  in  Christian  love.  It  appeared  to  me  that  everyone  in 
this  meeting  received  in  degree  of  the  heavenly  calling,  to  oenefit 
and  comfort. 

Through  the  two  following  days  I  attended,  the  service  of  the 
Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends  at  Bridgewater,  which  was  made,  un- 
der the  opening  of  divine  love,  a  deeply  interesting  season.  There 
was  an  evidence  granted,  through  adorable  mercy,  that  we,  un- 
worthy as  we  are  as  a  iieople,  are  still  not  forsaken,  but  that  the 
protection  of  the  Good  Siiepherd  of  Israel  is  still  mercifully  extended 
towards  us.     Blessed  be  his  holy  name  forever! 

The  4th.  I  was,  in  the  fore  part  of  this  day,  brought  under  very 
deep  exercise  of  mind.  Darkness  appeared  to  ]X'rvade  me.  I  feft 
very  low  and  destitute;  I  felt  stripped  and  distressed  in  mind,  but  I 
cried  to  him  for  comfort  who  alone  can  sujiport  the  poor,  solitary 
soul  under  all  its  exercises,  and  he  mercifully  heard  me  this  even- 
ing, in  a  large   meeting  I  held  at  Bradford,  in  the  Independent 


i^si  JOUENAL    OF   TJIOMAS    AUNETT.  319 

chapel,  where  he  ai'ose  eminently  for  my  deliverance,  and  set  me 
at  perfect  liberty  in  his  blessed  gospel,  to  the  edification  and  comfort 
of  all  before  me.     Praised  forever  be  his  worthy  name! 

Tlie  5th.  I  this  evening  lield  a  deeply  interesting  pnblic  meeting 
at  Trowbridge,  in  the  Independent  chapel,  where  I  met  a  large  and 
intelligent  congregation  of  Christians  of  various  religions  denomi- 
nations, among  whom  the  great  leading  doctrines  of  Christianity 
were  thrown  open  in  the  spirit  of  the  gospel,  to  the  glory  of  the 
name  of  God,  and  to  the  solemnizing  influence  of  all  who  were  be- 
fore me.  I  believe  that  this  meeting  will  be  of  a  lasting  benefit  to 
many  sincere  souls.     Praised  be  the  Lord  forever  I 

The  6th.  1  this  day  went  to  Cn-eucester,  and  the  next  day  being- 
First-day,  I  was  at  Friend's  meeting  there  in  the  morning,  where 
also  in  the  evening  I  held  a  large,  crowded  meeting  for  Friends  and 
others,  and  this  day  with  me  was  crowned  with  the  life  of  salvation 
and  immortality;  and  through  the  course  of  the  two  following  days 
I  attended,  to  mutual  comfort  and  edification,  the  service  of  the 
Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends  held  at  this  place. 

The  10th.  I  this  day  traveled  about  twenty  miles  toFarringdon, 
where  in  the  evening  I  held  a  public  meeting  for  Friends  and 
others,  which  was  a  blessed  and  glorious  opportunity;  and  on  the 
next  day  I  traveled  to  the  city  of  Gloucester,  where,  after  this,  I 
spent  the  two  following  days  at  a  Friend's  house,  quietly  in  reading, 
writing  and  meditation. 

The  14th  being  First-day,  and  a  season  of  much  divine  favor  with 
me,  I  this  morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  in  the  city  of 
Gloucester,  where  I  met  a  goodly  number  of  interesting  Friends, 
among  whom  I  was  much  comforted  through  the  imparting  of  the 
spiritual  bread  to  the  nourishment  of  our  souls;  and  in  the  evening 
1  held  a  public  meeting  in  this  city,  where  I  met  several  hundred 
people,  among  whom  I  was  largely  drawn  out  in  the  love  of  the 
gospel  of  peace  and  salvation,  to  the  interest  of  many  precious  souls, 
and  the  next  day  I  spent  comfortably  in  visiting  some  Friends. 

The  16th.  I  this  evening  held  a  public  meeting  at  Nailsworth, 
which  was  ])retty  well  attended  by  thoughtful  and  sober-minded 
people,  to  whom  I  was  much  drawn  out  in  that  love  which  breathes 
peace  on  earth  and  good  will  towards  men.  It  appeared  to  me  that 
there  were  those  people  before  me  in  this  meeting  who  were  renew- 
edly  visited  and  called  to  repentance  and  amendment  of  life. 
Praised  be  the  Lord  forevermorel 

The  17th.  I  this  day,  after  passing  tlirough  much  exercise  of 
mind,  connected  with  much  conversation  on  religious  subjects — 
Avitli  some  religious  people  not  of  our  society,  I  hope  to  benefit — 
held  in  the  evening  a  large,  crowded  meeting  at  Pamswick,  which 
was  much  owned  by  him  who  willeth  not  the  death  of  a  sinner,  but 
again  and  again  mercifully  calleth  all  to  return,  repent,  and  live 
forevermore. 


3iiO  JOUKXAL    OF    THOMAS    A  RNETT.  1851 

The  18th.  I  this  evening  hehl  a  very  trying  meeting  at  Tewks- 
bury.  About  a  hundred  and  fifty  people  attended  this  meeting, 
who  came  together  in  a  light,  airy  manner,  among  whom  there  wei'e 
a  number  of  children,  who,  by  their  behavior,  manifested  a  great 
want  of  proper  training,  and  in  addition  to  this,  I  have  seen  many 
such  instances  in  this  country.  After  sitting  some  time  among- 
them  with  pain  and  sorrow,  way  opened  at  length  for  me  to  arise 
and  to  deliver  a  very  solemn  warning  in  gospel  love,  I  hope  to  some 
good  impression  and  lasting  benefit ;  and  the  next  day  I  spent  in 
writing  and  meditation. 

The  20th.  I  this  day,  after  visiting  some  dear  aged  Friends  in 
the  city  of  Gloucester,  to  good  satisfaction,  went  to  Cheltenham; 
and  the  next  day  being  First-day,  I  attended  in  the  morning  Friends' 
meeting  there,  where  I  met  twenty-five  interesting  Friends,  and  we 
were  mutually  comforted  together;  and  in  the  evening  I  held  a  large, 
crowded  meeting  in  this  town,  wherein  I  trust  that  the  everlasting 
gospel  was  preached  in  that  authority  which  reaches  to  the  good 
seed  and  chains  the  evil  down. 

The  22nd.  I  traveled  this  day  upwards  of  twenty-five  miles  to 
Sudbury,  where,  in  the  evening,  I  held  a  large  meeting.  Those  in 
attendance  Avere  generally  people  in  the  3^ounger  walks  of  life,  to 
whom  the  visit atian  of  gospel  love  was  mercifully  extended,  to  the 
humility  and  tenderness  of  many  precious,  sincere  souls ;  and  the 
next  day  I  traveled,  through  an  aiv/ul  dark  thick  fog.  on  railroad 
conveyance,  upwards  of  a  hundred  miles  to  Neath,  in  South  Wales: 
and  this  day  with  me  closed  in  thankfulness  to  God  for  all  his  mer- 
cies to  me. 

The  24th.  I  spent  this  day  very  much  in  resting  a  little,  and  also 
in  visiting  some  dear  aged  Friends,  in  which  service  the  truth  of 
this  language  was  mutually  realized,  as  ''iron  sharpeueth  iron,  so  a 
tnau  sharpeneth  the  countenance  of  his  friend,"  and  this  is  very 
often  the  experience  of  the  saints  of  the  Good  Shepherd  of  Israel 
when  they  meet  and  converse  about  heavenly  things;  then  often- 
times he  is  0)i('  with  them,  and  opens  their  understanding,  whereby 
they  more  and  more  discover  in  degree  the  beauty  of  his  holiness 
and  their  own  utter  unworthiness.     Blessed  be  his  name  I 

The  25t]i.  I  this  day  attended  the  meeting  of  Frieiuls  at  Neath, 
where  I  met  twenty-five  people,  including  Friends  and  others, 
among  whom,  under  divine  grace,  I  was  a  little  drawn  out  in  the 
work  of  the  ministry,  to  good  satisfaction;  and  on  the  next  day, 
in  the  evening,  I  held  a  piiblic  meeting  in  this  town  for  Friends 
and  others,  in  the  Methodist  chapel,  where  I  met  about  a  hun- 
dred and  fifty  sober-minded  people,  among  whom  the  life  of  the 
spirit  of  the  gospel  was  raised,  in  some  small  degree,  to  humility; 
wherein  I  labored  in  this  meeting  under  a  degree  of  weakness,  with 
much  concern  of  soul  for  the  i)resent  and  eternal  well-being  of  the 
people  before  me.  This  meeting  ended  with  thanksgiving  to  God 
for  all  Tlis  wondrous  mercies. 


1851:  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  S'll 

The  37th.  I  this  day  traveled  part  of  tlie  way  by  railroad,  but 
most  of  the  way  by  coach  conveyance,  through  a  broken,  hilly  coun- 
try, u])wards  of  seventy-five  miles  to  Milford ;  and  the  next  day 
being  First-day,  I  attended  there,  in  the  morning,  the  meeting  of 
Friends,  where  I  met  fifteen  people,  including  Friends  and  others, 
among  whom  I  had  a  comfortable  opportunity,  after  which  for  a 
few  hours  my  mind  was  brought  under  deep  proving.  I  felt  very 
poor  and  destitute.  I  secretly  called  upon  God,  my  only  refuge,  for 
help,  which  he,  in  degree,  mercifull}"  granted  in  the  evening  in  a 
large  meeting  which  I  held  for  the  peo])le  of  the  town,  in  the 
Methodist  chapel.  Although  religious  feeling  was  not  raised  very 
high  in  this  meeting,  yet  the  testimony  of  truth  went  forth,  in  de- 
gree, to  comfort  and  edification. 

The  29th.  I  this  evening  held  a  glorious  and  luminous  meeting 
at  Haverfordwest,  in  the  Methodist  chapel,  where  I  met  several 
hundred  people,  upon  whom  the  spirit  of  the  gospel  was  gently 
distilled  as  the  heavenly  dew.  INIany  hearts  were  mercifully  reached 
in  this  meeting  and  bowed  under  the  weighty  power  of  God,  wherein 
I  was  set  at  perfect  liberty  in  my  labor,  to  the  humility,  edification 
and  comfort  of  the  people  before  me.  All  the  praise  is  alone  due 
to  him  who  inhabiteth  eternity. 

The  30th.  I  this  day  traveled  by  coach  conveyance  upwards  of 
fifty  miles  to  Tjlanelly,  where,  in  the  evening,  I  held  a  public  meet- 
ing, in  the  Independent  chapel,  which  was  pretty  well  attended  by 
religious  professors,  among  whom  I  was  much  opened  in  that  pure 
love  which  breathes  peace  upon  all  the  faithful  followers  of  God  in 
every  age  of  the  world.  I  believe  that  all  who  were  before  me  on 
this  occasion  were  very  glad  and  thankful  for  this  opportunity;  and 
the  next  day  I  returned  to  Neath,  with  a  thankful  heart  to  God  for 
all  his  mercies  toward  me. 

First  month,  1st,  1853.  I  awoke  this  morning  with  feelings  of 
deep  gratitude  to  God  and  love  to  all  my  fellow-beings  everywhere. 
Praise  ascended  renewedly  from  my  heart  to  him,  not  only  for  his 
mercy  and  protection  to  me  through  the  jiast  year,  but  also  for  all 
his  mercies  and  favors  bestowed  upon  me  all  my  life  long;  and  I 
was  very  thankful  to  him  for  permitting  me  to  see  the  light  of 
this  day,  and  the  language  of  my  heart  was:  "Suffer  me  not,  0 
Lord,  to  be  hurried  away  in  any  wise  from  thee  by  worldly  thoughts; 
suffer  me  not  to  be  seduced  into  false  hapi^iness  ;  suffer  me  not  to 
delight  in  the  thoughts  that  must  end  in  pain,  and  suffer  me  not  to 
think  anything  more  blessed  than  to  think  of  thee.  Happy,  thrice 
happy,  immediately  happy,  is  that  man  whose  happiness  is  placed 
alone  in  thee,  thou  perfect,  holy  and  adorable  God.  He  that  has 
happiness  in  thee  can  enjoy  it  at  all  times,  and  in  all  places;  it  is  a 
light  that  shines  every wdiere,  no  time  or  place  is  hid  from  its  bright 
and  hallowed  influence. 

He  who  delights  in  the  love  of  the  world  is  ever  looking  forward 


322  JOIKN'AL    OF    THOMAS    AKXETT.  igg.. 

to  something  greater  than  he  enjoys.  His  covetous  heart  is  never 
satisfied  ;  it  is  empty,  and  he  longs  to  fill  it  witli  things  that 
are  empty;  but  he  who  delights  in  his  Eternal  Father  and  Almighty 
Creator  is  not  looking  forward  to  anything  greater  on  earth,  for  what 
is  greater  than  God  ?  What  spirit  of  light  can  be  more  blessed  than 
he  wlio  feels  that  be  loves  God  with  all  his  heart? 

I  do  know  from  certain  experience  that  it  is  the  greatest  pleasure 
and  the  greatest  indulgence  to  tliink  of  God ;  tliink  of  anything 
else,  and  I  will  find  disai)pointment  in  it ;  whatever  I  think  of 
long  together,  in  regard  to  the  pleasure  of  this  world,  will  at  last 
give  me  pain;  it  will  show  me  that  I  must  be  disappointed  and 
mortified  in  such  indulgence. 

When  I  examine  m}'  own  self  in  the  light  of  truth,  and  call  up  in 
my  remembrance  all  my  former  sins  and  misgivings,  then  I  can  but 
mourn  that  I  ever  in  an)'wise  displeased  my  merciful  Creator;  and 
under  a  sense  of  my  many  infirmities,  I  can  but  call  upon  him  for 
his  mercy  and  protection,  knowing  that  it  is  alone  on  the  ground 
of  his  mercy,  through  faith  in  the  blood  of  Christ,  that  I  can  be 
saved  with  an  everlasting  salvation.  AVliatever  friend  I  associate 
with,  so  as  to  form  an.  intimate  acquaintance  with  him,  I  find  in 
bim  some  imperfection  or  weakness;  for  the  very  best  friends  are- 
clotbed  upon  with  infirmities.  Whatever  church  I  think  of,  and  a 
little  look  into  in  the  liglit  of  truth,  I  see  much  therein  to  be  de- 
plored, in  consequence  of  the  discijiline  thereof,  and  a  defect  in 
many  instances  in  regard  to  faith  and  doctrine.  Whatever  kingdom 
or  nation  I  see  and  think  of,  1  will  find  that  it  is  badly  governed, 
even  in  very  many  instances,  in  this  enlightened  day.  Wluitever 
sense,  talent  or  cajxtcity  I  meet  with  and  think  of.  I  am  thereby  in 
degree  met  with  ignorance  and  imperfection.  But  when  I  meditate 
on  God,  tliere  is  no  imperfection  there.  He  is  what  he  should  be — 
perfectly  perfect.  He  is  perfect  happiness,  and  is  such  a  fountain  of 
lia])piness  in  himself  that  he  has  enough  for  all  wlio  love  him  and 
seek  it  according  to  iiis  holy  will.  He  has  so  much  power  that  noth- 
ing can  obstruct  his  wise  counsels  and  purposes.  He  is  so  good  and 
kind  as  to  cause  all  things  to  work  together  for  good  to  them  that 
love  him.  There  is  no  ])ain  in  meditating  on  these  things;  there  is 
no  discouragement  in  thinking  of  everlasting  happiness.  It  is,  in- 
deed, the  experience  of  many,  that  when  the  body  is  Aveary  it  can 
no  longer  think  of  anything,  and  the  mind  being  so  enveloped  with 
slumber  that  oftentimes  the  most  delightful  thoughts  and  medita- 
tions at  last  quietly  and  soothingly  sink  into  sleej). 

When  I  meditate  on  anything  of  an  irritating  nature,  it  is  often- 
times my  experience  that  such  meditation  disturbs  me,  and  is  rather 
an  enemy  to  peace  and  quiet  repose;  but  when  I  meditate  on  God 
and  his  goodness,  there  is  such  a  sweet  and  soft  delight  in  it,  that 
if  the  mind  and  body  are  not  oppressed  with  sleep  I  can  continue  to 
meditate  on  (iod  and  his  attributes  longer  with  sweet  delight  than 


1852  .lOlKNAl.    OF    THOMAS    A  UN  KIT.  323 

I  can  tliink  of  anything  else;  and  yet  if  the  body  be  weary  and 
wants  sleep,  there  is  such  a  softness  in  the  delight  of  meditating  on 
God  and  his  wondrous  works,  that  the  mind  and  body  easily  and 
delightfully  oftentimes  fall  into  refreshing  slumbers. 

But  again  and  again,  in  some  form  or  other,  at  some  time  or 
other,  suffering  I  may  look  for;  and  suffering  is  necessary  for  my 
refinement,  for  the  path  of  sorrow,  and  that  alone,  leads  to  the  land 
where  sorrow  is  nnknown. 

It  is  oftentimes  my  experience  that  when  the  calm  seems  most 
profound  the  tempest  may  be  gathering.  The  darkness,  however 
deep,  the  waves,  however  wild,  are  no  disproof  of  Christ's  love; 
but  they  are  illustrations  that  his  love  is  wise;  for  if  the  trial  were 
not  necessary  it  would  not  be  sent.  Trials  oftentimes  remind  me 
that  this  world  is  not  my  home;  if  I  met  with  no  sorrow  in  my  way, 
I  should  be  still  more  prone  than  I  am  at  present  to  forget  that 
better  land  towards  which  I  am  journeying;  and  the  inconveniences 
of  the  path  continually  remind  me  that  I  am  only  a  stranger  and 
sojourner  in  this  world,  oftentimes  going  forth  in  the  mission  of 
the  gospel  for  the  good  of  souls  as  a  poor,  solitary  stranger  before 
many  strangers;  but  in  my  retired  walk  I  am  led  in  my  manj^  pri- 
vations more  earnestly  to  seek  the  aid  of  my  Divine  Comforter,  and 
to  look  to  the  rock  that  is  higher  than  myself,  knowing  that  I  have 
none  other  to  depend  upon. 

It  appears  to  me  that  faith  is  oftentimes  strengthened  by  trial; 
every  Chriatian  grace  becomes  more  vigorous  by  exercise;  therefore 
let  me  more  and  more  glory  in  tribulation,  knowing  that  tribulation 
worketh  patience,  and  patience  experience,  and  experience  hope. 
I^et  me  count  it  all  joy  when  I  fall  into  divers  trials,  knowing  this, 
that  the  trying  of  my  faith  worketh  patience;  and  let  me  also  be 
encouraged  to  patience  and  cheerfulness  in  affliction  by  the  thought 
that  the  trial  of  my  faith,  being  more  precious  than  of  gold  that 
perisheth  though  it  be  tried  with  fire,  might  be  found  unto  praise, 
and  honor,  and  glory  at  the  appearing  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
Not  that  the  beneficial  effects  of  the  storm  are  always  felt  while  it 
continues;  the  mind  may  be  too  much  agitated  by  terrors,  too  much 
occupied  by  sorrow,  and  too  much  debilitated  by  sympathy  with 
a  diseased  body  to  be  conscious  of  any  immediate  advantage;  and 
thus,  for  encouragement,  the  language  of  truth  is  that  no  afflction 
for  the  present  seemeth  joyous,  but  grievous;  nevertheless,  afterward 
it  yieldeth  the  peaceable  fruit  of  righteousness  to  them  that  are 
exercised  thereby.  So  in  a  tempest,  the  gale  from  which  the  mar- 
iner dreads  destruction  oftentimes  drives  the  vessel  rapidly  onward 
in  her  course.  This  may  not  be  perceived  while  the  storm  is  at  its 
height;  but  afterwards,  Avhen  the  sky  becomes  clear  and  when  the  ne- 
cessary observations,  can  be  taken,  it  is  oftentimes  found  that  much 
more  progress  has  been  made  during  one  tempestuous  night  than 
many  previous  days  of  calm.     This  is   always   the   case  with  the 


3-^4:  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  1852 

storms  which  assail  the  believer;  they  invariably  speed  liim  onward 
towards  his  desired  haven;  and  though,  while  the  winds  are  howl- 
ing and  the  Avaves  are  roaring  around  him,  he  may  sometimes  say: 
"All  these  things  are  against  me,"  and  fear  that  he  is  driven  farther 
from  the  desired  port,  nevertheless  afterwards  he  discovers  with 
thankfulness  that  the  winds  which  he  dreaded  have  been  wafting 
him  onward  in  his  voyage,  and  that  the  waves  Avhich  seemed  to 
threaten  him  with  death  have  borne  him  heavenward. 

0  that  I  may  more  and  more  so  go  forth  while  in  time  as  to  be 
accounted  worthy  oftentimes  sweetly  to  enjoy  the  peace  of  God  that 
jiasseth  all  understanding,  and  that  is  able  to  keep  my  heart  and 
mind  stayed  upon  Him  at  all  times  and  in  all  places,  and  under 
every  exercise  and  conflict  that  may  befall  me. 

In  prosperity  and  applause  may  I  not  be  lifted  up,  nor  in  adver- 
sity and  opposition  be  cast  down;  and  still,  whatsoever  befalls  me  in 
this  life,  may  I  give  unto  God  thanksgiving  and  praise,  and  still 
earnestly  desire  and  crave  that  he  may  cast  out  of  my  heart  every- 
thing that  is  contrary  to  his  holy  and  ever-blessed  will. 

God  trieth  his  people  in  every  age  of  the  world  according  to  his 
holy  Avill,  and  he  causeth  all  things  which  befall  them  by  the  way 
more  and  more  to  work  together  for  their  good.  Adversity  and  an 
an  afflicted  condition,  either  inward  or  outward,  or  both  together,  is 
no  sure  mark  of  his  displeasure,  no  more  than  prosperity  is  of  his 
love.  Let  me,  therefore,  be  more  and  more  resigned  to  him  in  the 
obedience  of  faith  under  all  circumstances  of  this  life. 

0  my  God,  remember  me  in  all  my  distresses,  when  my  soul  is 
almost  overwhelmed  under  affliction  of  any  kind;  then  protect  me 
and  fortify  me  with  thy  strength  to  stand  firmly  against  all  the 
fiery  darts  of  the  enemy.  Forgive  all  my  weaknesses;  sanctify  and 
prepare  me  for  further  service  in  the  work  of  thy  good  cause. 
Cleanse  me  from  secret  faults,  0  Lord!  Thou  knowest  my  heart; 
I  cannot  hide  anything  from  thee.  Cover  me  with  the  mantle  of 
thy  love,  and  clothe  me  with  humility,  and  let  me  go  forth  under 
thy  heavenly  power,  so  as  to  be  made  instrumental  in  converting 
and  gathering  souls  unto  thee,  for  which  purpose  thou  hast  sent  me 
forth  very  extensively  in  the  love  of  thine  everlasting  and  glorious 
gospel  of  peace. 

1  have  shed  tears  enough,  I  beleive,  already,  in  the  prosecution  of 
this  gospel  mission  now  resting  upon  me,  since  I  left  home  under 
the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  also  under  the  various  other 
afflicting  circumstances  permitted  to  assail  me,  to  wash  me  all  over; 
but  the  washing  of  these  tears,  0  my  God  !  cannot  cleanse  me,  for 
tliou  alone  canst  wash  me,  and  cleanse  me,  and  enable  me  to  "  wash 
my  hands  in  innoccncy,''  so  as  to  "compass  thine  altar  ;"  "  wasli 
me  thoroughly,"  I  beseech  thee,  and  cleanse  me  from  all  wrong 
things  ;  wash  my  head,  my  hands,  and  my  feet;,  and  make  me 
"  clean  every    whit,"  that   I  may  be  pure.     Thou  hast,  0  my  Sa- 


i8,v:  JOURNAL   OF    THOMA.S    ARNETT.  335 

viour,  loved  me,  "and  washed"  me  ''from  "my  "•  sius  in"  thine 
"own  blood."  I  therefore  pray  thee  to  sanctify  and  strengthen  me 
more  and  more,  for  in  thy  name  I  have  passed  through  great  tribula- 
tion ;  let  me  therefore  finally  be  "washed"  and  made  "white  in" 
thy  "blood,"  that  I  may  be  accounted  worthy  finally  to  be  "  arrayed 
in"  a  "  white  "  robe,  and  be  permitted,  in  thy  mercy,  finally  to  attain 
unto  the  resurrection  of  the  just,  so  as  to  reign  with  thee  in  light, 
glory  and  happiness  forever  more. 

Carry  on,  I  pray  thee,  0  my  God,  thy  good  work  in  me  accord- 
ing to  thy  worthy  will,  and  let  the  prosecution  of  this  great  mission 
of  thy  love,  now  resting  upon  me,  as  well  as  all  my  pilgrimage 
life,  finally  end  to  the  peace  of  my  mind,  to  the  glory  of  thy  name, 
and  to  the  advancement  of  thy  kingdom  of  peace  and  righteous- 
ness in  the  earth  ;  and  now  unto  thee  I  commend  myself,  for  thou 
art  able  to  keej)  me  from  falling,  and  finally  to  present  me  faultless 
before  the  presence  of  thy  glory,with  exceeding  joy  and  praise  un- 
speakable.    Amen. 

I  this  day  again  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at  Neath,  among 
whom  I  was  much  comforted  in  believing  that  the  good  presence  of 
the  divine  Master  was  with  us,  and  a  little  renewedly  strengthened 
us  in  the  way  of  a  holy  life ;  and  the  next  day  I  spent  very  much  in 
writing  and  in  meditation  on  heavenly  things  ;  my  mind  being 
inspired  very  much  with  devotional  exercise,  under  a  fervent  desire 
more  and  more  in  all  things  to  please  my  Almighty  Father  and  Cre- 
ditor in  heaven. 

The  3rd.  I  this  day  went  to  Swansea,  and  the  next  day,  being- 
First-day,  I  attended  there,  in  the  morning  Friends'  meeting, 
where  I  met  twenty-five  persons,  including  Friends  and  others,  for 
whom  the  word  of  exhortation  was  given  me  to  comfort  and  edifi- 
cation. 

In  the  afternoon  at  3  o'clock,  I  lield  a  public  meeting  in  this 
town,  in  the  Welch  Calvinistic  Methodist  chapel,  where  I  met  about 
fifteen  hundred  people,  among  wbom  the  doctrine  of  the  offer  of  the 
free  salvation  of  Grod  through  his  well  beloved  Son  to  all  mankind 
in  every  age  of  the  world  was  brought  to  view  and  sustained  accord- 
ing to  the  holy  Scriptures. 

The  5th.  I  this  evening,  under  feelings  of  deep  humility  held 
another  meeting  in  Swansea,  in  the  Welch  Baptist  chapel,  where  I 
met  upward  of  three  hundred  people,  who  came  together  under 
much  sobriety  of  spirit,  among  whom  the  gospel  was  preached  in 
the  authority  of  life  and  salvation  ;  and  after  I  had  delivered  my 
discourse,  the  minister  of  the  chapel,  Daniel  Davis,  a  worthy  and 
experienced  blind  man,  translated  the  substance  thereof  into  the 
Welch  language,  to  the  understanding  of  those  present  who  could 
not  understand  the  English  language,  which  interpretation  he  per- 
formed in  a  masterly  manner. 

The  6th.     I  was  this  day  much  refreshed  in  my  mind  with  the 


:^->(;  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    AHXETT.  1852 

income  of  the  good  presence  of  the  Lord  ;  I  sang  in  the  spirit  of 
mv  mind  praises  to  his  great  and  worthy  name,  feeling  renewedly 
biiilt  up  in  the  most  holy  faith.  In  the  evening  I  held  a  meeting 
at  Morristown,  a  village  about  three  miles  from  Swansea,  in  the 
Welch  Calvinistic  Methodist  chapel,  where  I  met  upward  of  three 
hundred  people,  who  were  generally  professors  of  Christianity,  and 
through  the  openmg  of  Christian  love  this  was  made  a  heavenly 
and  refreshing  Reason,  I  believe  very  much  to  all  who  were  before 
me ;  and  the  next  day  I  sj)ent  very  much  in  resting  and  reading 
and  meditation. 

The  8th.  I  this  day  went  to  Cardiff^  where,  in  the  evening  I 
held  a  meeting  in  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  chapel ;  therefore  part  of 
this  meeting  was  a  very  trying  season,  about  a  hundred  people  had 
come  together  whose  minds  were  not  for  awhile  prepared  to  receive 
the  word  of  life  and  salvation.  I  mourned  in  spirit  over  them,  and 
secretly  implored  for  the  renewal  of  divine  mercy,  and  after  sitting 
sometime  in  silence,  truth  in  a  good  degree  arose  in  dominion,  so 
tliat  I  found  among  them  much  good  service  in  opening  and  illus- 
trating the  duty,  nature,,and  character  of  divine  worship,  to  the 
praise  of  my  own  mind,  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  people. 

The  9th.  I  this  day  went  to  Newport,  where,  in  the  evening  I 
hold  a  meeting  in  the  town  hall  ;  about  three  hundred  people 
attended  this  meeting,  being  a  very  mixed  company  of  the  higher 
and  lower  rank  in  life,  and  also  possessed  of  various  opinions  in 
regard  to  religion,  among  whom  at  length  the  harmonizing  testi- 
mony of  the  everlasting  truth  went  forth  to  the  merging  in  degree 
into  the  spirit  of  the  gospel  of  praise.  Praised  forever  be  the  name 
of  the  great  Shepherd  of  Israel. 

The  10th.  I  this  day  traveled  by  railroad  conveyance  upwards  of 
a  hundred  and  fifty  miles  to  Tottenham,  where,  on  the  next  day, 
being  First-day,  I  pleasantly  attended  the  service  of  Friends'  meet- 
ings as  they  came  in  course. 

The  13th.  I  this  day,  with  feelings  of  very  deep  humility  and 
weiglit  of  spirit,  attended  the  service  of  the  Second-day  morning 
Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders  in  London,  wherein  I  gave  some 
little  account  of  my  movements  in  the  prosecution  of  my  travels 
in  this  beloved  country,  and  also  of  the  opening  of  truth.  I  in- 
formed Friends  of  the  remaining  future  prospect  before  me  prior  to 
the  close  of  my  religious  service  in  these  parts.  This  account  appeared 
to  be  very  satisfactory  to  Friends,  and  also  this  prospect  met  their 
Cliristian  symjiathy  and  unity,  and  they  encouraged  me  to  be  faith- 
ful to  the  opening  and  the  shutting  of  the  great  and  merciful  head 
of  the  churcli. 

After  this,  during  the  nine  following  days,  I  spent  my  time 
pleasantly  in  and  about  this  great  and  wonderful  city,  J)eing  em- 
ployed in  the  discharge  of  various  duties,  such  as  resting  and  im- 
proving my  health  a  little,  attending  Friends'  meetings  occasionally 


1852  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKNETT.  :]2] 

as  they  came  in  course,  paying  some  religious  ;iud  social  visits  to 
Friends  and  others,  and  reading,  writing  and  meditation. 

The  22nd.  I  this  day  attended  Friends'  meeting  at  Peckham,  as 
it  came  in  course,  where,  after  I  had  delivered  a  discourse  to  the 
comfort  of  Friends,  a  dear  Friend,  engaged  in  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry, was  drawn  most  fervently  and  devoutly  to  kneel  down  and 
pour  forth  her  prayer  and  supplication  to  the  Lord  Almighty  on  my 
liehalf,  wherein  she  was  opened  in  the  light  of  truth,  a  little,  to 
respond  to  the  many  baptisms  of  the  holy  spirit  attendant  on  me 
in  the  prosecution  of  my  gospel  mission  in  this  country;  and  also 
she  earnestly  supplicated  for  my  jireservation  through  all  to  the  end. 
All  in  this  meeting  heartily  united  in  this  prayer. 

While  here  I  received  the  following  kind  and  affectionate  letter 
from  a  dear  friend: 

Gloucester,  1st  mo.  14th,  1852. 
My  Very  Dear  Friend: 

Thou  hast  often  been  brought  to  my  remembrance  since  we  part- 
ed as  a  brother  beloved  in  the  Lord,  in  a  measure.  I  think  of  that 
love  which  many  waters  cannot  quench,  neither  can  the  floods 
drown  it.  I  believe  that  it  is  one  of  the  precious  privileges  brought 
to  us  by  the  gospel  to  feel  at  times  a  sweet  cementing  of  spirit 
one  to  another  in  the  bond  of  Christian  fellowship  which  endures 
so  long  as  we  are  alive  in  Christ..  Thy  visit  here  I  trust  I  shall  long 
remember  with  than  kfulness  as  a  time  of  refreshing  and  strength- 
ening to  my  often-tired  spirit. 

I  hope  thou  hast  passed  along  comfortably  since  we  parted,  and 
and  that  thou  hast  known  thy  great  and  merciful  Master  to  be  with 
thee,  and  himself  annointing  thee  for  every  fresh  service  which  he 
calls  for  at  thy  hands.  Oh!  I  crave  for  thee,  my  dear  friend,  that 
thou  mayest  continue  faithful  to  the  end  of  thy  gospel  mission  in 
this  country,  and  then  thou  wilt  be  permitted  in  peace  to  depart; 
and  also  then  thy  tender  Heavenly  Father  will  grant  thee  strength 
according  to  thy  day,  to  endure  all  that  He  sees  fit  to  lay  upon  thee 
in  returning  to  thy  now  desolated  home.  My  hear!:  has  deeply  sym- 
pathized with  thee  in  thy  numy  bereavements;  and  I  do  desire  that 
the  sweet  income  of  Divine  love  and  goodness  will  be  so  abundantly 
shed  abroad  in  thy  soul  that  it  will  more  than  outbalance  all  thou 
hast  had  to  suffer. 

And  now,  my  beloved  friend,  be  steadfast;  abounding  more  and 
more  in. the  work  of  the  Lord,  whereunto  thou  art  very  impress- 
ively called,  and  believe  me  to  be  thy  sincerely  attached  friend, 

Eliza  Sessions. 

The  23rd.  I  this  day  again  left  the  city  of  London,  under  feel- 
ings of  much  religious  concern,  to  keep  a  single  eye  to  the  point- 
ings of  truth  in  the  prosecution  of  the  gospel  mission  now  before 
me,  and  traveled  by  railroad  conveyance  upwards  of  a  hundred  and 
forty  miles,  to  the  neighborhood  of  Derby,  where  on  the  next  day  I 


:V>8  JOTRNAL    OF   THOMAS    AKXETT.  1852 

was  confined  at  a  friend's  house,  in  consequence  of  bodily  indisposi- 
tion. I  suffered  much  under  a  bilious  attack,  but  through  a  little 
medical  aid,  in  the  evening  I  became  much  relieved,  when  my  heart 
was  renewedly  filled  with  gratitude  to  the  great  Creator  of  the  ends 
of  the  earth  for  all  his  mercies  and  blessings  bestowed  upon  me  all 
my  life  long. 

The  25th.  Being  First-day,  and  a  time  long  to  be  remembered 
bv  many.  I  this  day,  in  the  afternoon  at  half  past  two  o'clock, 
held  another  public  meeting  at  Derby,  in  the  Mechanics'  Hall, 
where  I  met  about  two  thousand  people,  who  were  very  still  and  at- 
tentive. Much  Christian  solemnity  pervaded  this  company,  and 
the  baptizing  power  of  the  Lord  Avas  felt  eminently  to  be  over  the 
meeting,  under  the  blessed  influence  of  which  the  glorious  and  ever- 
lasting^gospel  was  preached  in  the  demonstration  of  the  spirit,  and 
and  with  power.  Many  hearts  were  reached,  and  all  before  me  ap- 
peared to  be  bowed  in  spirit  and  hushed  down  into  that  silence 
which  prepares  the  soul  to  receive  the  whole  truth  in  the  love  of  it. 
Praised  forever  be  the  holy  name  of  Israel's  Shepherd  I 

The  26th.  I  this  day  traveled  by  railroad  conve3^ance  upwards 
of  fifty  miles,  to  llochdale,  where,  on  the  next  day  in  the  evening, 
I  held  a  public  meeting,  which  was  small;  and  in  the  forepart 
thereof  it  was  to  me  a  trying  season:  but  at  length  truth  a  little 
arose  and  gave  me  some  "little  strength  and  utterance,  in  some  small 
degree  to  fhe  relief  of  my  mind,  so  that  the  meeting  ended  pretty 
well,  and  I  passed  the  night  under  comfortable  feelings.  Praised 
be  the  Lord  forevermorel 

The  28th.  I  this  day  traveled  to  Preston,  where  on  the  next  day 
T  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  as  it  came  in  course,  which  was 
a  small  but  good  meeting. 

The  30th.  I  this  day,  under  feelings  of  deep  exercise  of  mind, 
traveled  to  Fleetwood,  where  in  the  evening  I  held  a  public  meet- 
ing in  the  Methodist  chapel.  In  this  meeting  I  had  before  me  a 
large  and  respectable  congregation,  many  of  whom  possessed  seek- 
ing and  sincere  minds,  among  whom  I  was  eminently  opened  in  the 
love  of  the  everlasting  gospel  to  point  out  the  only  way  of  eternal 
salvation.  Many  minds  were  much  reached  and  broken  down  into 
tenderness  and  contrition.     Praised  be  the  Lord  foreverl 

The  31st.  I  this  day  traveled  to  Bolton,  under  much  pressure 
of  spirit,  all  within  me  being  humbled  as  into  dust  and  ashes. 
Strong  was  my  cry  to  the  blessed  Saviour  to  guard  me  against  all 
evil  and  temptation  of  every  kind,  knowing  that  without  him  I 
cannot  be  |)reserved  a  solitary  moment  while  traveling  in  this  sinful 
and  fallen  world. 

Second  mo.  1st.  Being  First-day,  and  a  season  of  much  divine 
favor  with  me.  I  this  morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at 
Bolton,  where  I  met  about  a  hundred  Friends,  among  whom  I  was 
much  o])cne(]  in  Christian  love  to  mutual  benefit  and  edification. 


1852  JOUKJSTAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  329 

In  the  afternoon,  at  half  past  two  o'clock,  I  held  a  public  meet- 
ing for  the  people  of  this  town,  in  the  Temperance  liall,  where  I 
met  about  two  thousand  peoi)le.  This  was  a  very  mixed  congrega- 
tion, those  present  being  out  of  the  various  churches  in  the  place; 
but  under  the  control  of  divine  wisdom,  the  cementing  and  har- 
monizing testimony  of  the  gospel  went  forth,  to  the  breaking  down 
of  many  imbibed"  prejudices.  This  was  a  glorious  and  blissful 
meeting,  and  closed  to  satisfaction  with  prayer  and  thanksgiving  to 
God  for  all  his  mercies. 

The  3nd.  I  this  day  traveled  to  Liverpool,  where,  through  the 
course  of  the  two  following  days,  I  spent  very  much  in  reading, 
writing  and  meditation,  and  in  visiting  some  families  of  Friends — 
I  believe  much  to  mutual  benefit,  comfort  and  edification. 

The  5th.  I  this  morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at 
Liverpool,  and  was  much  comforted  in  being  with  Friends  again 
of  this  place.  They  manifested  that  sympathy  towards  me  which 
lives  in  the  unity  of  the  spirit  in  the  bond  of  peace.  In  the  even- 
ing I  held  a  meeting  for  Friends  and  others  at  Southport,  in  the 
Methodist  chapel,  where  I  met  about  five  hundred  sober-minded 
people,  among  whom  the  inviting  testimony  of  the  glorious  and 
everlasting  gospel  went  forth,  pointing  out  the  way  to  come  to  Him 
for  peace  and  salvation  who  is  the  "Minister  of  the  sanctuary  and 
of  the  true  tabernacle  which  the  Lord  pitched,  and  not  man." 
This  was  a  blessed  and  heavenly  meeting,  and  ended  to  good  satis- 
faction. 

The  6th.  I  have  for  some  time  past,  with  feelings  of  deep  hu- 
mility, believed  that  it  would  be  my  religious  duty  again  to  return 
to  Ireland,  for  the  discharge,  as  way  may  open,  of  further  service 
in  the  truth  there.  I  therefore  this  evening,  at  seven  o'clock,  went 
on  board  of  a  steamer  at  Liverpool  for  the  city  of  Dublin,  where 
I  Avas  landed  the  next  morning,  after  having  a  pleasant  sail  of 
twelve  hours;  and  after  landing,  I  again  took  up  my  lodging  with 
my  dear  friend,  Samuel  Bewley,  who,  with  his  dear  wife,  again 
kindly  received  me. 

The  8th.  Being  First-day,  I  this  morning,  with  a  thankful  heart 
to  the  Author  of  all  my  sure  mercies,  attended  the  meeting  of 
Friends  at  Dublin,  among  whom  I  had  given  some  precious  and 
lively  testimony,  to  mutual  comfort;  and  in  the  afternoon  meeting 
I  found  it  to  be  my  duty  to  sit  with  Friends  with  much  peace- 
ful silence. 

The  9th.  I  spent  this  day  very  much  alone,  feeling  much  retired 
in  spirit  under  renewed  consideration  of  the  blessed  benefit  and 
effect  of  the  glorious  and  everlasting  gospel  to  man  as  he  opens  his 
heart  to  receive  it  in  the  love  of  it;  and  seeks,  under  divine  grace, 
to  come  to  be  merged  into  the  spirit  thereof,  for  the  gospel  is  one 
grand  system  of  truth,  one  magnificent  whole.  Every  part  of  it 
is  needed  for  the  recovery  and  salvation  of  man.     No  devotion  can 


3;>0  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKN'ETT.  1S62 

be  genuine  which  inspires  not  sentiments  of  this  nature,  for  devo- 
tion is  not  to  be  considered  as  a  transient  glow  of  affection,  occa- 
sioned by  some  casual  impressions  of  divine  goodness,  which  are 
suffered  to  remain  unconnected  with  the  conduct  of  life  and  con- 
versation. It  is  a  powerful  principle  which  penetrates  the  soul, 
which  purifies  the  affections  from  debasing  attachments,  and,  by 
a  fixed  and  steady  regard  to  God,  subdues  every  sinful  passion  and 
forms  the  inclinations  to  piety,  virtue,  godliness  and  holiness  of 
heart. 

It  is,  however,  a  joyous  consideration  that  the  glorious  light  of 
the  gospel  is  freely  emitted  from  the  sun  of  righteousness;  and  that 
though  instruments  are  mercifully  called  upon  in  the  various  ages 
of  the  world  to  bear  testimony  to  it  in  redeeming  invitation  and 
love  to  man,  yet  that  He  before  whom  all  "the  nations  are  as  a  drop 
of  a  bucket,  and  are  counted  as  the  small  dust  of  the  balance;  be- 
hold he  taketh  up  the  isles  as  a  very  little  thing,"  can,  when  they 
fail,  do  his  work  without  them,  and  glorify  the  house  of  his  glory. 

This  gospel  ••'is  the  jjower  of  God  unto  salvation  to  everyone  that 
believetli,"  and  "therein  is  the  righteousness  of  God  revealed  from 
faith  to  faith;  as  it  is  written,  the  just  shall  live  by  faith,"  and 
through  the  general  effusion  of  this  gospel  all  are  warned  to  flee 
from  the  wrath  to  come,  and  to  return,  repent,  and  live  forever- 
more. 

The  10th.  I  this  day,  with  feelings  of  very  deep  humility,  at- 
tended the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends  held  in  the  city  of  Dub- 
lin, wherein,  with  much  fear  and  trembling,  I  opened  a  concern 
which  had  for  some  time  past  Aveightily  impressed  my  mind  to  pay 
a  religious  visit  to  the  families  of  Friends  constituting  tliis  large 
monthly  meeting,  and  also  those  within  the  limits  thereof  who  are 
not  in  membership  with  us,  but  who  are  in  the  babit  of  attending 
Friends'  meetings.  This  concern,  being  spread  before  Friends,  met 
their  hearty  unity  and  concurrence  in  tiiat  sympathy  which  springs 
up  under  the  power  of  the  cross,  and  which  oftentimes  mutually 
refreshes  the  liearts  of  the  sanctified  and  tribulated  believers. 

After  this,  during  the  space  of  upwards  of  two  months,  I  was 
faithfully  engaged  in  the  prosecution  of  this  very  weighty  concern, 
and  also  in  other  religious  exercise  and  service  which  fell  upon  me 
in  various  i)arts  of  Ireland,  including  that  of  attending  the  Quar- 
terly, and  some  other  meetings  of  Friends  in  this  land,  and  that  of 
holding  a  number  of  public  meetings  for  Friends  and  others  in 
various  parts  of  the  island;  and  some  of  them  were  largely  attended 
and  much  owned  by  the  Good  Shepherd  of  Israel,  and  all  of  this 
service  was,  in  a  good  degree,  relieving  to  my  mind. 

In  the  prosecution  of  this  family  visit,  I  paid — under  deei>  exei- 
cises,  and  with  great  humility  of  spirit,  connected  with  strict 
watchfulness  unto  i)rayer,  minding  my  ste})ping-stones  in  the  open- 
ing of  true  faith  in  my  movements — about  two  hundred  and  sev- 


1852  JOUKNAI.    or    THOMAS    AHNETT.  ool 

enty-five  visits  to  Friends  and  those  professing  with  us,  to  mutual 
comfort  and  edification. 

In  going  forth  from  house  to  house  on  this  very  weighty  service, 
I  believe  that  he  who  "pntteth  forth  his  own  sheep"  and  "goeth 
before  them"  was  mercifully  with  me  and  went  before  me,  preparing 
the  way  in  the  hearts  of  those  whom  I  visited  to  receive  his  testi- 
mony in  the  love  of  it,  for  "the  ]ireparations  of  the  heart  in  man, 
and  the  answer  of  the  tongue,  is  from  the  Lord." 

I  was  not  only  led,  under  the  baptisms  of  the  holy  spirit,  into  the 
states  and  conditions  of  the  visited,  but  also  my  understanding  was 
so  opened  and  illuminated  in  the  light  of  truth,  as  to  enable  me  to 
discover  and  to  visit  the  seed  in  the  love  of  the  gospel,  and  to  labor 
effectually  for  the  entire  deliverance  from  under  the  bondage  of  sin 
and  death,  so  as  to  come  to  be  accounted  to  be  worthy  of  being 
numbered  with  the  children  of  God,  "for  as  many  as  are  led  by  the 
spirit  of  God.  they  are  the  sons  of  God;''  and  all  sanctified  believers 
are  led  by  his  good  spirit,  and  these  "have  not  received  the  spirit 
of  bondage  again  to  fear,"  but  these  "have  received  the  spirit  of 
adoption,  whereby"  they  "cry  Abl)a,  Father."  "The  spirit  itself 
beareth  witness  with"  their  "spirit,  that"  they  "are  the  children  of 
God,  and  if  children,  then  heirs  of  God,  and  joint-heirs  with 
Christ;  if  so  be  that,"  they  "suffer  with  Him,  that"  they  "may  be 
also  glorified  together,  for  I  reckon  that  the  sufferings  of  this  pres- 
ent time  are  not  worthy  to  be  compared  with  the  glory  that  shall 
be  revealed  m"all  the  righteousness  of  God,  for  "eye  hath  not  seen, 
nor  ear  heard,  neither  have  entered  into  the  heart  of  man,  the  things 
which  God  hath  prepared  for  them  that  love  him,  but  God  hath  re- 
vealed them  unto"  his  children  "by  his  spirit,  for  the  sprit  search- 
eth  all  things,  yea,  the  deep  things  of  God." 

In  attending  to  the  discharge  of  my  religious  duty  from  day  to 
day,  in  paying  these  family  visits,  very  deep  and  weighty  were  my 
exercises,  and  various  were  the  Christian  duties  which  were,  in 
Christian  love,  opened,  developed  and  inculcated,  to  mutual  bene- 
tit;  and  I  believe  that  consequently,  in  some  degree,  to  the  deepen- 
ing in  the  root  of  immortal  life. 

Many  whom  I  visited  appeared  not  to  be  deep  and  well  experi- 
enced in  the  knowledge  of  the  Christian  religion,  wherefore  I  was 
oftentimes  called  upon  a  little  to  illustrate  and  open  the  economy  of 
the  great  doctrine  of  Christian  redemption,  includmg  the  sin  con- 
sequent on  the  fall  of  man,  tlie  great  love  of  God  to  him,  and  to 
all  his  posterity,  through  a  merciful  and  crucified  Redeemer;  the 
teaching  of  the  holy  spirit,  the  necessity  of  repentance,  conversion, 
regeneration  and  holiness  of  heart;  the  doctrine  of  future  rewards 
and  punishments  "according  to  that"  we  have  "done,  whether  it 
be  good  or  bad,"  and  the  great  and  general  day  of  Judgment — all 
these  things  I  was  enabled  to  inculcate  according  to  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  under  a  deep  sense  of  the  great  duty  of  strict  watchful- 


33-^  JOUHN'.VL    OF   'I^IOMAS    AKNETT.  isryi 

ness  unto  prayer  continually,  so  as  to  be  enabled  so  to  walk  in  the 
light  of  Christ  as  to  have  fellowship  one  with  another  in  his  true 
church;  and  then  his  precious  blood,  through  living  and  saving 
faith  therein,  will  cleanse  us  from  all  sin.  I  believe  that  this  visit 
will  long  be  remembered  by  many  for  good,  in  the  prosecution  there- 
of, while  I  mournfully  sometimes  met  with  those  who  were  lukewarm, 
and  depending  very  much  on  self-righteousness  for  salvation,  yet 
I  joyfully  oftentimes  met  with  many  sincere,  exercised  and  baptized 
souls,  among  whom  the  word  of  encouragament  was  given  to  "press 
toward  the  mark  for  the  prize  of  the  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ 
Jesus."  Knowing  that  we  are  "compassed  about  with  so  great  a  cloud 
of  witnesses,  let  us  lay  aside  every  weight,  and  the  sin  which  dotli 
so  easily  beset  us,  and  let  us  run  with  patience  the  race  that  is  set 
before  us,  looking  unto  Jesus,  the  author  and  finisher  of  our  faith, 
who  for  the  joy  that  was  set  before  him  endured  the  cross,  despising 
the  shame,  and  is  set  down  at  the  right  hand  of  the  throne  of  God: 
for  consider  him  that  endured  such  contradiction  of  sinners  against 
himself,  lest"  we  "be  wearied  and  faint  in"  our  "minds."  In  con- 
nection with  this  religious  duty,  that  also  of  keeping  daily  under 
the  sanctifying  influences  of  divine  grace  was  very  impressively 
inculcated,  so  as  to  be  accounted  worthy  to  "dwell  in  the  house  of 
the  Lord  all  the  days  of"  our  natural  life,  so  as  "to  behold  the 
beauty  of  the  Lord  and  to  inquire  in  his  temple,"  then  "in  the  time 
of  trouble  he  shall  hide"  us  "in  his  pavilion,  in  the  secret  of  his 
tabernacle  shall  he  hide"  us;  "he  shall  set"  us  "up  upon  a  rock;" 
knowing  "that  if  our  earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle  were  dis- 
solved, we  have  a  building  of  God,  an  house  not  made  with  hands, 
eternal  in  the  heavens.''  Let  us  therefore  go  forth,  while  in  this 
world,  patiently  "bearing"  the  "reproach"  of  Christ,  "for  here  we 
have  no  continuing  city,  but  we  seek  one  to  come,"  "the  street  of" 
which  is  "pure  gold,  as  it  were,  transparent  glass,"  and  we  under- 
stand that  there  is  "no  temple  therein,  for  the  Lord  God  Almighty 
and  the  Lamb  are  the  temple  of  it,  and  the  city"  has  "no  need  of 
the  sun,  neither  of  the  moon  to  shine  in  it,  for  the  glory  of  God" 
doth  "lighten  it,  and  the  Lamb  is  the  light  thereof."  All  these 
things  were  inculcated  in  the  prosecution  of  this  family  visit,  and 
finally  we  were  reminded  under  this  visit  that  "the  name  of  the 
Lord  is  a  strong  tower,  the  righteous  runnetii  into  it,  and  is  safe." 
I  oftentimes  feel  in  latter  time  that  I  am  like  one  who  has  no 
resting-place  on  this  earth,  or  any  sure  consolation  in  this  world, 
in  which  I  dare  trust;  but  if  I  am  found  worthy  to  follow  him  in 
holiness  of  heart  who  said,  "the  foxes  have  holes,  and  the  birds  of 
the  air  have  nests,  but  the  Son  of  Man  hath  not  where  to  lay  his 
liead,"  he  will  mercifully  provide  for  me,  for  he  is  the  Creator,  and 
therefore  the  possessor  of  all  the  worlds.  As  to  the  performance  of 
my  religious  duty,  I  desire  therein  to  be  low  and  humiJe,  under  the 
power  of  the  cross,  and  under  this  power  my  s])irit  has  oftentimes 


1882  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  33:^ 

been  dip[)ed  into  sympathy  inexpressible  with  a  seed  in  this  land, 
of  which  I  have  not  attained  the  outward  discovery.  May  God,  in 
his  infinite  wisdom,  bless  and  water  this  seed  as  it  may  jilease  him, 
so  as  to  bring  forth  fruit,  to  the  glory  of  his  name;  and  in  his  own 
time  and  way,  may  he  mercifully  raise  his  church  in  this  land  out 
of  its  present  low  state,  so  that  the  light  thereof  may  shine  upon 
this  land,  which  appears  to  me  to  be  much  covered  with  •'darkness" 
and  "the  people"  with  ''gross  darkness,"  the  sense  of  which  causes 
oftentimes  very  deep  inward    mourning  to  my  bowed-down  soul. 

AiHicted  believer,  saitli  my  spirit,  be  comforted;  weeping  may 
continue  for  a  night,  but  joy  cometh  in  the  morning.  Think  not 
too  much  of  th}^  light  afflictions,  which  endure  but  for  a  moment, 
but  of  thy  eternal  weight  of  promised  glory;  thy  heart  may  be 
panting  and  sighing  for  deliverance,  as  the  hart  panteth  for  the 
water-brook,  but  remember  thou  hast  a  river  of  water  of  life  at 
hand;  and  that  soon — very  soon — thou  wilt  be  conducted  unto  liv- 
ing fountains  of  water,  and  God  shall  wipe  away  from  thy  eyes  all 
tears  forevermore.  Soon  shall  time  pass  tliee  into  eternity;  soon 
shall  mortality  be  swallowed  up  of  life,  when  thy  labors  shall  be 
exchanged  for  that  rest  which  remaineth  for  the  people  of  God; 
when  thy  sorrow  shall  be  exchanged  for  a  feeling  of  joy  at  God's 
right  hand  forevermore.  A  few  more  struggles,  and  all  toil  will 
be  over;  a  few  more  setting  suns,  and  thy  eyes  shall  behold  that 
angelic  convoy  prepared  to  bear  thee  Avitli  holy  transport  and 
seraphic  song  on  their  golden  pinions  to  tlie  glorious  mansions  of 
peace  and  everlasting  rest  in  the  heavens. 

I  have,  for  my  own  part,  long  since  learned  to  expect  trials,  be- 
cause I  am  so  much  clothed  upon  Avith  infirmity  that  I  cannot  ex- 
pect to  be  exempt  therefrom  while  in  this  sinful  world.  Oh,  that 
my  acquaintance  may  become  more  and  more  intimate  with  him 
in  whom  is  the  fulness  of  undefiled  peace,  then  may  I  rejoice  in 
every  tribulation  that  comes  upon  me. 

There  appears  to  me  to  be  no  joy  like  that  of  the  righteous,  nor 
any  unity  similar  to  theirs,  and  next  to  the  immediate  influences  of 
the  Holy  Spirit,  it  is  to  me  desirable ;  and,  indeed,  Christ  himself 
IS  the  author  and  the  sustainer  of  this  joy  and  of  this  unity. 

Nothing  is  impossible  with  God,  and  nothing  can  limit  the  exer- 
cise of  his  mercy  and  power  in  exalting  the  poor  penitent  from  the 
lowest  depths  of  sin  and  depravity  to  the  highest  position  in  his 
kingdom  in  heaven.  He  who  said,  "Let  there  be  light,  and  there 
was  light,"  and  who  by  his  quickening  energy  can  in  an  instant 
convert  the  vilest  sinner,  and  grant  pardon  in  the  hour  of  death, 
can,  in  a  moment,  illuminate  the  dark  understanding  of  the  most 
abandoned  of  sinners.  Glory  to  him  forever!  For  they  who  have 
turned  to  the  stronghold,  the  only  refuge  of  salvation,  are  prison- 
ers of  hope.  The  Lord  is  their  strength  and  redemption,  whose 
power  is  invincible,  unchangeable  and  eternal.     He  is  the  same  yes- 


334  JOURXAL   OF   TUOMAS    AKXETT.  1862 

terday,  to-day,  and  forever;  lie  is  still  ^'traveling  in  the  greatness 
of  liis  strength,"  and  the  powers  of  darkness  shall  fall  before  him, 
according  to  the  working  of  his  power,  nntil  "the  heathen"  shall 
come  to  be  his  "inheritance,  and  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth" 
his  "possession." 

He  who  is  the  Creator  and  Preserver  of  all  mankind  in  every 
age  of  the  world,  alone  knows  what  is  best  suited  to  each  of  his 
rational  creatures,  and  shall  he  not  do  what  he  will  with  his  own? 
Yea,  he  doeth  whatsoever  he  pleaseth  in  the  armies  of  heaven,  and 
among  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth.  In  a  moment  he  can  throw 
his  smile  over  the  couch  of  poverty  and  disease,  and  invest  it  with 
the  joys  of  heaven;  and  he  can  also  cast  his  frowns  around  the  lap 
of  ease  and  prosperity,  and  invest  it  with  the  extremes  of  misery 
and  wretchedness.  The  springs  of  sorrow  and  of  joy  hang  upon 
his  mercy  and  upon  his  judgment,  and  move  at  his  command.  In 
an  instant  he  can  bring  all  these  into  full  oi^eration,  and  call  into 
existence  a  thousand  fresh  currents,  unknown  to  man,  of  agony  and 
of  pain,  and  of  joy  and  of  rapture. 

There  is  no  condition  or  place  in  this  fallen  world  exempt  from 
tlie  encroachment  of  sickness,  disease  and  sorrow.  It  appears  to 
me  to  be  a  necessary  law  of  the  fallen  organization  of  man  and  all 
his  i)Osterity,  consequent  upon  his  fall,  and  the  sin  transmitted 
througii  his  fall  to  all  his  posterity,  for  what  man  is  he  that  liveth 
and  shall  not  see  death?  for  in  consequence  of  sin  all  must  die. 

Man  brings  with  him  at  his  birth  a  constitution  of  body  having 
within  it  the  seeds  of  sickness  and  death,  and  he  is  ever,  while  in 
this  world,  surrounded  by  noxious  agents  which  tend  to  his  death. 
How  can  we  expect  to  find  happiness  without  alloy  in  a  fallen  and 
deluded  world,  where  all  things  are  full  of  labor  and  traveling  in 
pain?  How  cheering  it  is  to  know  that  every  dark  spot  in  the 
gloomy  hemisphere  of  the  present  life  is  gilded  by  a  future  ray  of 
joy  to  the  saint.  Every  cloud  has  a  sunshine  behind  it,  and  a  hope 
within  it,  of  a  fairer  and  a  brighter  day.  When  his  day  of  life  is 
drawing  to  a  close,  and  the  dark  shades  of  death  are  falling  uj^on 
him,  he  can  welcome  them  as  the  peaceful  harbinger  of  his  setting 
sun,  which  Avill  soon  rise  in  glory  and  in  immortality.  He  has  within 
a  hidden  life  which  outlives  all  the  gratifications  of  sense  and  all 
the  desolations  of  time;  and  as  his  outward  man  decays,  his  inward 
man  is  renewed  from  day  to  day. 

If  we  look  to  the  prophets  and  to  the  apostles,  if  we  look  to  our  own 
friends  and  relatives  around  us  in  like  manner,  we  see  that  troubles 
and  afflictions  have  ever  mingled  with  their  comforts  and  consola- 
tions. Look  at  the  Saviour  himself,  submitting  meekly  to  suffering. 
How  remarkably  did  the  life  of  Christ  in  his  incarceration  exhibit  a 
man  of  sorrow  and  acquainted  with  grief,  and  how  truly  did  he 
leave  us  an  example  of  patient  endurance  under  affliction  and  trial, 
to  which  we  are  subject  in  this  world. 


«852  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  335 

What  ji  checkered  scene  is  Imman  life,  and  how  various  are  the 
baptisms  and  the  afflictions  of  the  righteous.  One  hour  we  seem 
almost  to  enjoy  the  bliss  of  the  holy  angels,  the  next,  of  all  men,  the 
most  miserable!  At  one  moment  a  ])eaceful  serenity  reposes  on  the 
soul,  and  pervades  the  feelings  like  that  which  rests  on  the  face  of 
the  ocean  in  an  evening  calm.  At  another  we  are  like  the  troubled 
sea  when  it  cannot  rest,  all  calculated  to  inspire  us  with  a  sense  of 
the  vanity  of  this  world,  and  that  here  we  have  no  continuing  city. 
The  God  of  mercy  and  of  love  seems  to  have  wisely  designed  certain 
visible  objects  iii  an  especial  manner,  to  inspire  us  with  a  sense  of 
our  present  and  future  condition. 

Death  is  an  event  in  the  history  of  man  which  has  ever  been  re- 
garded with  very  solemn  and  impressive  feelings.  The  close  of  the 
present,  and  the  entry  upon  a  future  world,  must  naturally  awaken 
the  most  serious  and  anxious  reflections.  Nor  can  we  wonder  that  a 
train  of  the  most  profound  and  imju'essive  emotions  should  arise 
within  the  mind  of  the  sanctitied  believer,  when  he  feels  the  curtain 
of  natural  life  about  to  fall;  and  when  he  stands  at  the  portal  into 
eternity,  about  to  witness  the  separation  between  the  mortal  body 
and  the  immortal  soul,  how  wonderful  is  this  dissolution,  and  how 
surpassing  wonderful  will  that  event  be  which  God  will  bring  about 
at  the  general  resurrection  of  the  dead.  How  does  it  confound  all 
human  wisdom  when  we  take  but  one  glance  of  this  wonderful  and 
miraculous  event!  this  mysterious  change  which  shall  be  brought 
about  under  the  economy  of  God  in  the  great  and  general  day  of 
judgment,  for  "we  shall  not  all  sleep,  but  we  shall  all  be  changed 
in  a  moment,  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  at  the  last  trump,  for  the 
trumpet  shall  sound  and  the  dead  shall  be  raised  incorruptible,  and 
we  shall  be  changed,  for  this  corruptible  must  put  on  incorrup- 
tion,  and  this  mortal  must  put  on  immortality,"  so  that  finally 
''death"  shall  be  "swallowed  up  in  victory." 

I  have,  in  the  prosecution  of  the  gospel  mission  resting  upon  me, 
under  the  power  of  the  cross  of  Christ,  never  sought  for  great 
things,  neither  have  I  studied  the  eloquence  of  the  learning  of  this 
Avorld,  for  I  can  certify  "that  the  gospel  which"  has  been  "preached 
of  me  is  not  after  man,  for  I  never  received  it  of  man,  neither 
was  I  taught  it,  but  by  the  revelation  of  Jesus  Christ,"  where- 
fore in  the  work  of  this  gospel  ministry  I  can  say  that  my  labor 
therein  has  not  been  with  "  excellency  of  speech  or  of  wisdom," 
"and  my  sjieech  and  my  preaching"  has  not  been  "with  entic- 
ing word  of  man's  wisdom,  but  in  demonstration  of  the  spirit, 
iind  with  power,"  that  the  faith  of  those  before  whom  I  have 
labored  in  gospel  love  "should  not  stand  in  the  wisdom  of 
man,  but  in  the  power  of  God."  Notwithstanding,  I  believe 
that  I  have  been  favored  in  a  good  degree  to  "  speak  wisdom 
among  them  that  are  perfect,  yet  not  the  wisdom  of  this  world,  nor 
of  the  princes  of  this  world,  that  come  to  nought,  but"  "the  wis- 


336  JOURXAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  18.V.* 

doni  of  God  in  a  mystery,  even  the  hidden  wisdom,  which  (rod  or- 
dained before  the  world  unto"  the  glory  of  his  name,  ''which  uona 
of  tlie  princes  of  this  world  knew,  for  had  they  known  it,  they 
would  not  have  crucified  the  Lord  of  Glory;"  but  in  the  opening  of 
this  wisdom  all  faithful  believers  in  Christ  are  oftentimes  comforted 
in  looking  through  the  ho])e  of  the  faith  of  the  gospel  beyond  the 
grave  for  their  final  reward,  knowing  that  "eye  hath  not  seen,  nor 
ear  heard,  neither  have  entered  into  the  heart  of  man,  the  things 
which  God  hath  prepared  for  them  that  love  Him,  but  God  hath 
revealed  them  unto"  his  faithful  children  "by  his  spirit,  for  the 
spirit  searcheth  all  things,  yea,  the  deep  things  of  God,"  in  whose 
hand  is  all  the  power  both  in  the  heaven  and  also  in  the  earth. 

I  have  oftentimes  known  it  to  be  very  profitable  for  me  to  be 
deeply  humbled  and  awfully  prostrated  in  spirit  before  the  Almighty^ 
powerful  helper  of  his  people,  that  so  what  I  am  in  the  work  of  tiie 
ministry  of  the  gospel,  I  may  be  by  his  grace  only;  having  observed 
that  in  many  instances,  when  the  creaturely  part  is  not  wholly 
abased  under  divine  grace,  but  some  self  sufficiency  or  treasure  be- 
longing thereunto  is  yet  saved  or  reserved,  there  has  been  a  mixture 
brought  forth  neither  tending  fully  to  the  glory  of  God  nor  sowing 
the  seed  of  life  and  salvation  in  that  authority  which  reaches  the 
witness  for  truth  in  the  heart;  wherefore,  I  feel  that  it  is  a  great 
matter  to  stand  fully  approved  by  the  great  head  of  the  church  in 
this  very  solemn  and  responsible  service,  to  "speak  as  the  oracles 
of  God,"  and  to  "  minister"  "  as  of  the  ability  Avhich  God  giveth," 
is  the  very  indispensable  duty  of  all  who  are  called  of  him  into 
this  great  work,  "that  God  in  all  things  may  be  glorified  through 
Jesus  Christ,  to  whom  be  praise  and  dominion  forever  and  ever. 

In  the  discharge  of  my  religious  duty,  under  the  mission  of  the 
gospel,  from  time  to  time  and  from  place  to  place,  "I  have  not 
shunned  to  declare  unto'"  the  people  "all  the  counsel  of  God,"  ac- 
cording to  the  holy  scriptures;  giving  oftentimes  "attendance  to 
reading,  to  exhortation,  to  doctrine,"  meditating  "upon  these 
things,"  giving  myself  "wholly  to  them,"  that  my  "profiting,"  un- 
der divine  grace,  "may  appear  to  all."  I  have  also,  with  fear  and 
trembling,  under  deep  leligions  concern,  with  prayer  and  supplica- 
tion, studied  "to  show"  myself  "approved  unto  God,  a  workman 
that  needeth  not  to  be  ashamed,  rightly  dividing  the  word  of  truth." 
I  now,  with  feelings  of  very  deep  humility,  commit  the  keeping  of 
myself,  with  all  the  labors  of  my  j)ilgrimage  life,  unto  him  "who 
only  hath  immortality,  dwelling  in  the  light  which  no  man  can  ap- 
proach unto,  whom  no  man  hath  seen,  nor  can  see;  to  whom  be 
honor  and  power  everlasting."     Amen. 

Fourth  mo.  24th.  I  this  day,  under  very  deep  exercise  of  mind, 
with  some  discouragement  of  spirit,  attended  the  Yearly  Meeting 
of  ministers  and  elders,  in  the  city  of  Dublin,  where  I  met  with  my 
dear  friends,  Eli  Long  and  Sybil  Long,  his  wife,  from  New  England 


1852  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  337 

Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends.  These  dear  Friends  are  acceptable 
ministers  of  onr  religious  society,  who  are  now  in  this  country  in 
the  prosecution  of  a  gospel  mission  consistent  with  the  order  of  our 
society.  We  were  glad  and  very  thankful  in  being  permitted  thus 
to  meet  in  this  country,  being  mutually  united  in  spirit  in  that  true 
sympathy  which  springs  up  under  the  influence  of  the  cross. 

A  little  prior  to  this  time,  I  was  renewedly  plunged  down  into 
deep  baptism  of  spirit,  wiierein  I  cried  mightily  to  him  who  alone 
can  save  me,  and  who  hath  said,  ''It  is  impossible  but  that  offences 
will  come,  but  woe  unto  him  through  whom  they  come."  I  beseech 
thee,  holy  and  adorable  One,  to  keep  me  under  the  shadow  of  thy 
wing  when  offences  come  upon  me  from  any  qiuirtcr  whatsoever, 
and  "lead"  me  "not  into  temptation,  but  deliver"  me  "from  evil, 
for  thine  is  the  kingdom,  :ind  the  power,  and  the  glory,  forever." 
Amen. 

The  2oth.  Being  first  day,  I  this  morning  attended  the  Yearly 
Meeting  for  worship,  through  which  I  sat  in  peaceful  silence.  Some 
other  Friends  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  however,  had  good  ser- 
vice. In  the  evening  meeting,  way  opened  for  me  to  labor  in  the 
love  of  the  gospel  to  good  satisfaction. 

The  2Cth.  The  Yearly  Meeting  for  discipline  was  opened  this 
morning,  and  Friends  this  day  appeared  to  be  much  favored  in 
thankful  acknowledgment  to  the  Good  Shepherd  of  Israel  for  being- 
permitted  thus  again  to  come  together. 

The  27th.  I  this  morning,  with  feelings  of  deep  humility,  was 
permitted,  through  divine  mercy,  to  pay  a  visit  in  gospel  love  to  the 
Yearly  Meeting  of  women  Friends,  to  mutual  comfort  and  satis- 
faction. 

The  28th.  I  this  morning  was  at  another  sitting  of  the  Yearly 
Meeting  for  worship,  wherein  I  was  again  silent;  and  in  the  after- 
noon I  attended  another  sitting  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  for  disci- 
])line. 

The  29th.  I  this  day,  after  attending  the  service  of  the  Yearly 
Meeting  for  discipline,  held  in  the  evening  a  highly  favored  meet- 
ing for  the  youth,  which  was  largely  attended  by  many  intelligent 
and  interesting  young  Friends.  This  meeting  will  be  long  remem- 
bered by  many  for  good  ;  the  everlasting  truth  reigned  overall,  and 
the  seed  of  life  in  many  was  mercifully  visited.  Praised  forever  be 
the  Lord ! 

The  30th.  I  this  morning  was  at  another  sitting  of  the  Yearl}- 
Meeting  for  worship,  and  was  silent  under  deep  exercises  of  mind. 
Some  Friends  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  had,  however,  j^retty 
good  service.  In  the  evening  this  Yearly  Meeting  for  discipline 
satisfactorily  closed  its  session,  with  feelings  of  gratitude  to  God  for 
all  his  mercies  toward  us,  not  only  on  the  present  occasion,  but  also 
throughout  our  sojourn  in  this  world.  This  Yearly  Meeting  will 
long  be  gratefully  remembered  by  many  dear  and  sincerely  engaged 


338  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKXETT.  ^gj.. 

Friends,  wlio.  diiriug  the  course  thereof,  were  l)rought  to  feel  very 
near  and  dear  one  to  another  in  the  seed  of  immortal  life.  It  was  a 
season  of  much  refreshment  and  comfort  to  Friends,  wlio  manifested 
Christian  love  one  to  another,  and  who  Avere  favored,  under  the 
direction  of  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church,  to  cai'ry  on  their  business 
to  the  lionor  of  his  name. 

Fifth  mo.  1st.  This  morning  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  ministers 
and  elders  again  came  together  with  feelings  of  deep  humility,  and 
Friends  of  this  meeting,  under  the  prospect  of  soon  parting  with 
me,  so  as  never  again  expecting  to  see  me  in  this  world,  were  iinited 
with  me  in  the  sweetness  of  the  unity  of  the  spirit,  in  the  bond  of 
peace;  and^under  this  precious  feeling,  prayer  was  otfered  up  to  the 
Lord  Almighty  on  my  behalf,  and  under  his  baptizing  power,  this 
meeting  also  this  day  closed  its  session,  soon  after  issuing  the  fol- 
lowing certificate  in  acknowledgment  of  my  services  within  the 
limits  of  this  Yearly  Meeting  : 

To  Miami  Monthly  Meeting,  Miami  Quarterly  Meeting,  and  the 
Yearly  Meeting  of  Ministerf<  and  Elders  of  Indiana: 
Dear  Friends  : — Our  beloved  friend,  Thomas  Arnett,  concern- 
ing whom  we  received  your  certificates  liberating  him  for  religious 
service  in  these  parts,  has  visited  the  meetings  generally  in  this 
land,  the  families  of  Friends  in  some  places,  and  has  also  attended 
this  Yearly  Meeting  ;  and  having  informed  us  that  he  believes  the 
time  of  his  return  to  his  native  land  is  drawing  near,  we  certify  on 
his  behalf  that  his  company  and  gospel  labors  have  been  acceptable, 
and  that  his  conduct  and  conversation  amongst  us  have  been  in- 
structive and  edifying.  Desiring  for  this  our  dear  brother,  that 
the  Good  Shejiherd  may  mercifully  continue  to  be  with  him,  safely 
conduct  him  through  any  further  service  he  may  be  pleased  to 
require  of  him.  and  finally  grant  to  him  an  entrance  into  his  rest,  we 
are,  with  the  salutation  of  love,  your  friends. 

Signed  by  direction  and  on  behalf  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  min- 
isters and  elders  for  Ireland,  held  in  Dublin,  on  the  24th  of  Fourth 
nio. ,  and  by  adjournment  on  the  1st  of  Fifth  mo.,  1852. 

AV-M.  Jas.  Barcroft, 
Clerk  to  the  Meeting  this  year. 

The  2nd.  Being  First-day,  and  a  time  of  very  deep  exercise  with 
me,  my  soul  was  bowed  down  as  in  the  dust,  and  my  spirit  cried  to 
(rod  for  his  mercy  and  support.  I  this  morning  attended  another 
sitting  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  for  worship,  and  was  silent ;  and  in 
the  evening  the  Yearly  Meeting  for  worship  again  came  together  as 
the  final  close  of  this  interesting  meeting,  wherein  I  was  much  set 
at  liberty  in  the  freedom  of  the  gospel ;  all  before  me  were  brought 
to  feel  very  near  and  dear  to  me,  and  to  one  another,  under  the 
prospect  of  this  being  my  final  opportunity  with  them.  When  this 
meeting  came  to  a  close,  many  dear  Friends  took   their  very  dear 


1852  .lULliNAI.    OF    THOMAS    A  RN  K  TI'.  330 

ali'ectionate  leave  of  me  in  that  Christian  sympathy  which  springs 
up  and  lives  under  the  influence  of  the  cross  of  Christ,  so  that  we 
parted  with  the  prospect  of  finally  meeting  in  heaven,  where  parting 
will  be  no  more. 

The  3rd.  I  this  day,  after  paying  a  number  of  social  visits  to 
Friends,  as  a  farewell  opportunity  with  them,  in  the  evening,  feel- 
ing clear  of  Ireland,  went  on  board  a  steamer  for  Liverpool,  where 
I  was  landed  on  the  next  morning,  after  having  a  very  delightful 
and*  calm  voyage ;  and  after  paying  some  social  visits  there,  to 
Friends,  I  on  the  next  day,  in  the  evening,  went  on  railroad  con- 
veyance to  London,  where  I  arrived  in  about  six  hours'  travel,  w^ith 
much  peace  of  mind,  and  with  a  prayerful  spirit. 

I  beseech  thee,  0  Lord,  everlasting  God,  to  have  mercy  upon  me, 
for  I  am  poor  and  needy  ;  preserve  me  to  the  end  of  my  pilgrimage, 
and  finally  grant  me  a  place  in  thy  heavenly  kingdom,  and  let  this 
journey  end  in  peace  with  me!     Amen. 

The  6th.  I  was  this  day  brought  very  low  in  the  spirit  of  my 
mind  ;  I  felt  that  I  had  no  support  but  in  heaven  ;  my  sj)irit  in 
faith  looked  up  there  to  my  Almighty  Friend  with  earnest  prayer 
and  supplication  for  his  providence  and  ]U'otection. 

The  7th.  I  this  day  attended  the  meeting  for  suffering  in  Lon- 
don, and  although  Friends  appeared  to  be  glad  again  to  see  me,  yet 
my  spii'it  was  much  cast  down.  I  felt  poor,  destitute,  and  stripped, 
and  my  cry  was  alone  to  him  who  only  can  help  and  support  me. 
May  his  will  concerning  me  be  done. 

The  8tli.  I  spent  this  day  very  much  in  writing,  reading,  med- 
itation, and  in  suitable  bodily  exercise,  and  in  the  evening  I  again 
went  to  the  house  of  my  kind  and  affectionate  friend,  George 
Stacey,  of  Tottenham,  who,  with  his  family,  appeared  to  be  very 
glad  to  see  me  ;  and  the  next  day,  being  First-day,  I  attended  there, 
the  morning  and  evening  meetings  of  Friends  to  good  satisfaction; 
and  on  the  10th  I  was  again  at  the  Second-day  morning  Meeting  of 
Ministers  raid  Elders  in  London,  wherein  Friends  manifested  much 
Christian  sympathy  for  me. 

After  this,  during  the  remaining  part  of  this  week,  I  spent  pleas- 
antly in  paying  some  social  and  farewell  visits  to  some  dear  friends 
in  and  about  London,  attending  some  meetings  of  Friends  as  they 
came  in  course.  These  visits  were  mutually  strengthening,  com- 
forting, and  encouraging. 

Tlie  IGth.  Being  First-day,  I  in  the  morning  and  evening  at- 
tended meeting  with  Friends  at  Westminster,  wherein  I  was  much 
opened  in  the  love  of  the  gospel  to  very  good  satisfaction. 

The  17th.  I  attended  this  day  two  sittings  of  the  Yearly  Meet- 
ing of  Ministers  and  Elders  in  London,  wherein  I  was  much  opened 
with  a  sweet  and  comforting  discourse  to  mutual  satisfaction. 

The  18tli.  I  this  day  attended  another  sitting  of  the  Yearly 
Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders,  which,  through  divine  mercy,  was 


340  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  1352 

one  of  the  most  interesting  meetings  of  tlie  kind  I  ever  attended. 
Many  weighty  subjects  came  before  Friends,  which  were  considered 
in  the  liglit  of  truth,  and  disposed  of  with  sound  discretion. 

The  19th.  I  this  morning  attended  the  opening  of  the  Yearly 
Meeeting  for  Discipline,  which  was  a  time  of  thankful  acknowledg- 
ment to  the  Lord  Almighty  for  all  his  sure  mercies  unto  us  ;  and 
in  the  evening  I  was  at  another  sitting  thereof  with  feelings  of  deej) 
interest.  . 

I'he  20th.  I  this  day  attended  two  sittings  of  the  Yearly  Meet- 
ing with  feelings  of  deep  interest  and  humility,  and  found  some 
acceptable  service  ;  and  on  the  next  day,  in  the  morning,  I  was  at 
Gracechurch  street  meeting  for  worship,  wherein  I  was  silent  ; 
several  other  Friends,  however,  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  had 
good  service. 

The  22nd.  I  this  day  attended  another  very  deeply  interesting- 
sitting  of  the  Yearly  Meeting,  and  was  enabled  throagli  divine  wis- 
dom to  deliver  a  discourse  to  the  satisfaction  of  Friends. 

The  23rd.  Being  First-day,  I  this  morning  and  evening  attended 
Friends'  meeting  at  Devonshire  House,  and  was  silent  under  deep 
exercise  of  mind  ;  several  other  Friends  in  the  work  of  the  ministry, 
however,  had  much  good  service. 

The  24th,  I  this  day  again  attended  two  sittings  of  the  Yearly 
Meeting,  with  feelings  of  Christian  love. 

The  25th.  I  this  morning  attended  to  a  concern  resting  on  my 
mind  in  paying  a  religious  visit  to  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  women 
friends,  much  to  the  relief  of  my  mind,  this  being  my  farewell, 
final  visit  to  them,  which  was  a  deeply  humbling  opportunity. 

The  20th.  I  this  morning  attended  the  meeting  for  worship  at 
Devonshire  House,  which  was  a  large  meeting  of  Friends  and  others. 
The  service  of  this  meeting  very  much  fell  upon  me.  Way  opened 
in  my  mind  to  preach  the  glorious  and  everlasting  gospel  to  a  very 
intelligent  and  tender-hearted  congregation.  Many  tears  were  shed 
in  this  meeting  under  the  prospect  that  very  soon  I  should  be  far 
separated  from  the  very  interesting  company  before  me,  feeling  my 
services  drawing  to  a  close  in  this  country.  I  therefore,  with  feel- 
ings of  gratitude  to  God  for  all  his  mercies  toward  me  in  all  my  life 
long,  at  length  took  my  very  alfectionate  farewell  leave  of  tiie  jieo- 
ple  l)efore  me,  in  this  "language  :  "  Finally,  brethren,  farewell  ;  be 
l)ei'i'ect  ;  be  of  good  comfort ;  be  of  one  mind  ;  live  in  peace,  and 
the  (iod  of  love  and  i)eace  shall  l)e  with  you  ;"  and  saith  my  spirit, 
with  very  earnest  desire  for  you  :  ''the  grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  the  love  of  God,  and  the  communion  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
be  with  you  all.     Amen;" 

The  27th.  T  this  day  again  attended  the  usual  service  of  the 
Yearly  Meeting,  and  on  the  next  day,  in  the  evening,  this  Yearly 
Meeting  for  discipline  solemnly  closed  its  session,  with  many  thank- 
ful hearts  to  the  Lord  for  his  mercy  and  favor  toward  us,  exper- 
ienced on  the  })resent  occasion. 


1852  JOUKXAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  341 

The  29tli.  The  Yearly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders  this 
morning  again  came  together,  and  after  passing  through  much 
■weighty  business,  this  meeting  also  closed  its  session  with  feelings  of 
gratitude  to  God  for  all  his  mercies  toward  us,  and  with  Christian 
love  one  to  another.  A  little  prior  to  the  close  of  this  meeting, 
Friends  entered  into  deep  sympathy  for  me,  and  with  prayerful 
feelings  they  issued  the  following  certificate  in  regard  to  my  ser- 
vices in  this  country  : 

To  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Miami,  Warren  County,  Ohio,  the  Quar- 
terly Meeting  of  Miami,  and  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and 
Elders  of  Indiana  : 

Dear  Friends  : — Our  dear  friend,  Thomas  Arnett,  attended 
this  meeting  in  1849,  and  presented  certificates  of  the  concurrence 
of  your  meetings  respectively  with  his  prospect  of  religious  service 
in  Europe.  He  was  also  with  us  in  1850  and  1851 ;  and  being  again 
acceptably  present  at  this  time,  has  informed  us  that  his  way  ap- 
pears clear  to  a  jieaceful  retreat  from  this  field  of  labor  as  soon  as 
our  present  Yearly  Meeting  may  terminate.  In  the  prospect  of  thus 
parting  with  our  dear  friend,  we  are  engaged  to  testify  to  our  belief, 
that  he  has,  during  his  sojourn  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  sought 
with  all  the  diligence  which  his  health  would  admit,  to  fulfill  the 
work  to  which  he  has  believed  himself  called.  He  has  visited  our 
meetings  very  generally,  held  many  meetings  for  worship  appointed 
for  those  not  in  religious  profession  with  us,  and  with  the  concur- 
rence of  this  meeting,  visited  the  small  settlements  of  those  who 
profess  with  us,  upon  the  Continent  of  Europe.  During  the  whole 
of  these  extended  labors,  we  are  grateful  in  believing  that  his  min- 
istry has  been  sound,  his  conduct  circumspect,  and  under  the  heavy 
domestic  afflictions  which  have  been  permitted  him,  and  in  which 
he  has  had  our  tender  sympathy,  he  has  instructively  evinced  the 
blessed  support  of  the  faith  and  the  hope  of  a  Christian. 

We  desire  that  on  the  return  of  our  dear  friend  to  his  native  land 
a,nd  to  you,  he  may  continue  to  feel  the  peaceful  seal  of  our  gracious 
Saviour's  acceptance  of  his  dedication,  and  be  kept  of  him  through 
the  remainder  of  his  earthly  pilgrimage  to  his  heavenly  kingdom. 

Signed  in  and  on  behalf  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and 
Elders,  held  in  London,  by  adjournments,  on  the  17th,  18th,  20th, 
and  29th  of  the  Fifth  month,  1852. 

Thomas  Norton,  Clerk. 

The  30th.  Being  First-day,  I  attended  meeting  in  the  morning 
at  Devonshire  House,  and  found  much  good  service  in  the  work  of 
the  ministry,  and  on  the  next  day  I  went  to  Liverpool. 

Sixth  mo.  1st.  I  was  this  day  and  the  next  day  clothed  with  the 
most  perfect  sweet  peace  of  mind,  under  the  prospect  of  being  lib- 
erated from  this  beloved  country  ;  wherefore  I  looked  forward  to 
my  own  beloved  country  with  that  true  consolation  which  this  world 


342  .lOlliXAL    OK   THOMAS    ARXETT.  1S5^ 

can  neither  give  uor  take  away.  Thankfulness  was  raised  in  my 
heart  to  the  Lord  Almighty  for  his  mercy,  his  preservation,  and  his 
protection  toward  me  throughout  this  great  journey.  Praised  for- 
ever be  his  great  and  worthy  name! 

The  3rd.  I  this  day  again  attended  the  Monthly  Meeting  of 
Friends  at  Liverpool,  under  the  prospect  of  this  being  my  last  op- 
portunity with  Friends  of  this  place,  and  under  the  blessed  influ- 
ence of  the  Holy  Spirit.  I  was  favored  with,  a  precious  and  sweet 
farewell  discourse,  wherein  Friends  were  brought  to  feel  very  neai- 
and  dear  me,  in  the  blessed,  sweet  and  immortal  life  ;  and  toward 
the  close  of  the  meeting  for  worship,  a  dear  Fi'iend,  a  worthy  min- 
ister of  the  gospel,  was  drawn  to  kneel  in  prayer  and  supplication  to 
the  Lord  Almighty,  wherein  he  was  impressively  drawn  to  supplicate 
liis  many  loving  kiudness  and  protection  on  my  behalf  through  all 
to  tue  end  of  my  earthly  pilgrimage. 

The  4th.  I  spent  this  day  very  much  in  making  preparation  for 
my  voyage  to  America,  and  in  receiving  farewell  visits  from  many 
dear  Friends,  and  also  in  taking  my  very  affectionate  leave  of  them, 
and  on  the  next  day,  at  11  o'clock  in  the  morning,  with  feelings  of 
deep  humility,  and  with  the  most  perfect  sweet  peace  of  mind,  after 
taking  a  most  affectionate  leave  of  many  dear  friends,  I  went  on 
board  the  British  mail  steamer  Europa,  for  New  York,  with  sweet 
prayer  to  Almighty  God  for  his  jirotecting  power,  iiot  only  through 
this  voyage,  but  through  all  my  life  long. 

After  going  on  board  of  this  vessel,  before  setting  sail,  I  received 
the  following  kind  and  very  affectionate  farewell  letter  from  a  dear 
friend  of  mine  : 

London,  Sixth  mo.  4th,  185"2. 

My  Dear  Friend  : — I  supjjose  that  when  this  reaches  thee  thou 
wilt  be  upon  the  ship  which  thou  hast  chosen  to  convey  thee  across 
the  great  waters  to  the  land  of  thy  birth  and  of  thy  love.  Li  leav- 
ing this  country,  thy  retrospect  upon  the  immense  labor  which  thou 
hast  i)erformed  here  in  the  service  of  thy  Master,  cannot  afford  any 
other  than  comfort  and  peace.  Yet  I  am  sure  the  feeling  at  part- 
ing forever  with  this  land,  and  the  friends  who  in  such  numbers 
have  been  so  kind  to  thee,  must  produce  some  painful  feelings. 
Yet  these  feelings  of  pain  may  be  in  a  measure  softened  by  the 
knowledge  that  many  a  warm  heart  is  this  day  beating  in  sympathy 
with  thee,  and  res])onds  to  thy  regrets  at  the  separation.  Among 
these,  I  believe  that  thou  hast  no  one  more  fervent  and  more  ardent 
than  myself.  And  now,  in  bidding  farewell  upon  thy  dei)arture,  I 
must  express  my  heartfelt  wish  that  thou  may  be  preserved  during 
tiiy  stay  upon  the  mighty  deep,  and  be  favored  with  a  speedy  and 
prosperous  voyage  to  thy  own  beloved  countr}'.  1  sincerely  hope, 
also,  when  thou  readiest  thy  own  country,  that  thou  wilt  gratefully 
remember  me.  And  now,  with  feelings  of  the  warmest  attachment 
toward  thee,  I  bid  thee  affectionately,  farewell. 

William  II.   Wagstaif. 


18.>2  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    AKXKTT.  C43 

Many  farewell  letters,  similar  to  this,  in  and  about  tliis  time  were 
affectionately  thrown  in  before  me  from  friends  in  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland,  and  in  addition  thereto,  a  little  prior  to  this  time, 
many  dear  friends  came  to  see  me,  so  as  to  take  their  final  farewell 
leave  of  me,  never  expecting  again  to  see  me  in  this  world.  On 
tliese  occasions,  oftentimes  tears  were  poured  forth,  with  prayer  and 
supi)lication  on  my  behalf,  that  the  protecting  hand  of  the  Shepherd 
of  Israel  may  attend  me  through  all,  so  as  finally  to  crown  me  with 
glory  and  immortality. 

I  beseech  thee,  0  Lord,  everlasting  God,  to  guard  me  with  the 
angel  of  thy  presence  while  I  am  on  this  great  water.  All  things 
in  the  heavens  and  in  the  earth  are  under  thy  control  and  subser- 
vient to  thy  wise  counsels  and  purposes;  0,  therefore,  mercifully  ex- 
tend thy  preserving  and  protecting  hand  to  me,  not  only  during 
this  voyage,  but  also  to  the  end  of  my  earthly  pilgrimage,  and  finally 
grant  me  a  place  in  thy  heavenly  kingdom.     Amen. 

The  6th.  Being  First-day.  and  although  I  was  very  sea-sick,  yet 
I  was  able  to  sit  alone  and  keep  silence  awhile  in  waiting  upon  the 
Lord,  after  reading  a  suitable  portion  of  the  holy  Scriptures. 

The  7th.  The  sea  this  day  was  rough,  and  my  sea-sickness  in- 
creased, until  at  length  I  was  a  litfle  relieved  by  vomiting  severely. 
My  heart  was  this  day  very  thankful  to  that  God.  who,  while  he 
controls  the  worlds,  and  governs  the  mighty  deep,  yet  he  hath 
respect  to  the  humble  and   lowly  in  spirit. 

The  8th.  A  very  delightful  and  interesting  day  with  me  ;  the 
sea  was  more  calm,  and  I  was  able  most  of  the  day  to  be  up  on 
deck,  so  as  to  behold  the  grandeur  of  the  great  water  with  that 
sweet  peace  of  mind  which  nothing  could  inspire  but  that  great  and 
W'Orthy  Being  who  created  the  world  and  all  things  therein,  who  is 
Lord  of  the  heaven  and  earth,  and  who  willeth  that  all  mankind 
living  should  return,  repent,  and  live  forever.  Blessed  be  his 
name  forevermore! 

The  9th.  The  sea  this  day  was  again  so  rough  that  I  suffered 
much  with  sea-sickness,  but  the  sweet  peace  of  my  mind  continued 
iminterrupted,  with  grateful  meditation  on  the  wondrous  works  of 
him  who  preserves  his  faithful  servants  both  on  the  land  and  on  the 
sea. 

The  10th.  The  sea  this  day  was  more  calm,  and  my  sea-sickness 
was  a  little  passed  off,  so  that  my  heart  was  renewedly  filled  with 
gratitude  to  God,  and  with  love  toward  all  my  fellow  beings  in 
every  country  in  all  the  earth. 

The  11th  and  12tli.  With  the  exception  of  some  fogs  arising  and 
])assing  over  the  sea  occasionally  through  these  two  days,  we  had  a 
delightful  sail,  the  sea  being  generally  pretty  calm,  as  also  the 
state  of  my  mind  was  perfectly  calm,  being  filled  with  that  sweet 
consolation  which  none  can  give  but  he  who  inhabiteth  eternity, 
whose  name  is  holy,  and  whose  merciful  providence  is  over  all  his 


;]4:4  JOTRXAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  1852 

works.     May  he  point  out  my  path  for  me  in  all  things  to  the  end. 

The  13th.  Being  First-day,  although  the  sea  was  pretty  eahn 
this  day,  yet  I  suffered  much  Avith  the  sick  stomach  comi)laint. 
I  however  was  able  to  sit  up  and  read  some  Scripture,  and  to  wait 
awhile  on  God  in  the  discharge  of  the  duty  of  divine  worship  to 
him. 

The  lith.  This  was  one  of  the  most  delightful  days  to  me  that 
I  ever  saw  on  the  great  waters.  The  sea  was  very  calm,  and  it 
was  a  clear  time,  so  that  the  sun  shone  beautifully  on  the  mighty 
deep,  and  great  was  the  sweet  peace  of  my  mind. 

The  loth.  My  mind  this  day  was  much  clothed  with  sweet  and 
peaceful  meditation,  thankfully  acknowledging  in  the  spirit  of  my 
mind,  the  mercy,  the  condescension,  and  the  goodness  of  him  who 
suffered  more  for  me,  and  for  all  mankind,  tlian  I  can  suffer  for 
him.  Let  me,  therefore,  more  and  more  be  willing  to  suffer  for 
him,  and  for  his  good  cause,  while  in  this  fallen  and  sinful  world, 
that  I  may  reign  with  him  eternally  in  the  good  world  to  come. 

The  IGth.  I  was  this  day,  in  the  evening,  landed  at  the  city  of 
New  York,  after  a  sail  from  Liverpool  of  about  eleven  days  and  five 
hours.  After  landing,  my  heart  was  filled  with  feelings  of  grati- 
tude toward  him  whom  "  the  sea  and  the  fountains  of  waters  "  obey, 
for  all  his  wondrous  and  marvelous  mercies  extended  toward  me 
throughout  all  this  great  and  extended  Journey.  The  three  follow- 
ing days  I  visited  very  much,  quietly  with  Friends  of  this  city, 
who  were  very  glad  again  to  see  me  in  my  own  beloved  country. 

The  J^Oth.  I  this  morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  in 
this  city,  and  was  favored  with  a  refreshing  testimony  to  the  satis- 
faction of  Friends  and  the  peace  of  my  own  mind,  and  in  the  after- 
noon I  also  attended  their  meeting  to  satisfaction. 

The  31st.  I  this  day,  in  company  with  my  dear  friend,  Thomas 
Wistar,  who  came  to  this  city  a  little  to  assist  me  on  my  way  homeward , 
went  to  Philadelphia,  where,  the  three  following  days,  I  attended 
the  meetings  of  Friends  as  they  came  in  course,  and  the  25rh  and 
20th  I  spent  in  writing  and  in  visiting  some  dear  friends. 

The  27th.  Being  First-day,  I  attended  meeting  Avith  Friends  in 
the  morning  and  evening  with  Friends  of  Philadelphia,  who  a})- 
peared  to  be  ghid  again  to  see  me  ;  and  on  the  29th,  in  company 
with  my  dear  friends,  Thomas  Wistar  and  his  wife,  I  left  this  city 
for  the  deeply  affecting  approach  of  Waynesville,  where  we  arrived 
l)y  railroad  and  coach  conveyance,  on  the  2nd  day  of  the  Seventh 
month,  in  the  evening,  having  been  absent  from  this  neighborhood 
about  three  years,  three  months  and  seventeen  days,  and  having 
traveled  while  out  on  this  great  journey,  on  land  and  water,  upwards 
of  twenty-five  thousand  miles. 

Very  thankful  was  my  heart  to  Almighty  God;  on  my  return,  for 
the  wonderful  extension  of  his  adorable  mercy,  preservation,  and 
protection  toward  me,  a  poor  worm  of  the  dust,  throughout  all  this 


1862  JOUKNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKNETT.  34.") 

great  and  extended  journey,  and  sweet,  very  sweet,  was  the  peace 
of  my  mind,  in  feeling  in  the  spirit  of  my  mind  his  merciful  and 
gracious  acceptance  of  this  my  dedication  to  his  good  cause. 

On  my  arrival,  having  no  home  of  my  own  where  to  lay  my  head, 
therefore  a  dear  friend  of  mine,  of  this  neighborhood,  through  ten- 
der Christian  sympathy  toward  me,  in  consequence  of  the  heavy 
domestic  afflictions  resting  upon  me,  kindly  met  me  and  conducted 
me  to  his  house  for  the  place  of  my  sojourn  till  some  way  should 
open  for  me  ;  who,  on  the  next  day  after  my  arrival,  went  Avith  me 
to  Friends'  graveyard,  where  I  saw  the  grave  of  my  dear  wife, 
and  that  of  a  number  of  her  dear  relatives,  where  I  stood  for  some 
time  under  the  deepest  mourning  and  grief.  I  again  poured  forth 
my  tears,  and  the  language  of  my  heart  was  :  0  Lord,  thou  that 
dwellest  in  eternity,  which  beholdest  from  above  things  in  the 
heaven  and  in  the  air,  thy  throne  is  holy,  so  that  thy  glory  may  not 
be  comprehended,  before  whom  the  hosts  of  angels  stand  trembling; 
0  let  me  also  stand  trembling  before  thee,  for  1  am  clothed  upon 
Avith  much  infirmity,  therefore  let  me  pray  before  thee  for  myself, 
a  poor,  unworthy  worm  of  the  dust;  hear  my  cry,  and  understand 
my  words,  for  I  see  now  the  falls  of  the  awful  desolation  of  death, 
which  is  the  consequence  of  sin,  but  according  to  the  swiftness  of 
thy  holy  word,  the  grave  shall  not  always  have  the  victory,  but  in 
the  last  day,  "in  a  moment,  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  at  the  last 
trump,  for  the  trumpet  shall  sound,  and  the  dead  shall  be  raised 
incorruptible,  for  this  corruption  must  put  on  incorruption,  and 
this  mortal  must  put  on  immortality  ;"  and  when  this  wonderful 
event  shall  be  brought  about,  then  death  shall  be  swallowed  up  in 
victory.  "0  death,  where  is  thy  sting!  0  grave,  where  is  thy 
victory  !"  Therefore,  under  the  sorrowful  sight  now  before  me, 
let  me  hope  in  the  prospect  of  the  glorious  resurrection  of  the 
just.  But  my  heart  is  deeply  affected  in  beholding  the  spot  wherein 
is  laid  the  nearest  and  dearest  object  that  I  had  upon  tliis  earth. 
Hear,  0  Lord,  the  prayer  of  thy  servant,  and  give  ear  to  the  peti- 
tion of  thy  poor,  solitary,  afflicted  and  cast  down  one,  and  let  this 
affliction  be  sanctified  to  me  and  to  others  instructively;  but  0  Lord 
Almighty,  I  am  brought  very  low,  and  thou  only  art  my  preserver 
and  protector  ;  therefore  help  me,  a  poor  desolate  one,  at  this  awful 
time,  for  I  have  no  helper  but  thee.  0,  therefore  hear  the  cry  of 
thy  poor,  forlorn  servant,  and  strengthen  me  more  and  more  ac- 
cording to  thy  will.  Open  before  me,  0  holy  one,  as  it  may 
please  thee,  some  way  for  my  outward  comfort  and  accommodation, 
while  I  am  permitted  of  thy  mercy  to  live  in  this  world,  and  point 
out  to  me,  in  thine  own  time  and  way,  where,  and  how,  I  am  to 
spend  my  future  time  in  this  world,  for  I  am  thine;  therefore  do 
with  me  according  to  thy  will  in  all  things,  and  preserve  and  me 
unto  thy  heavenly  kingdom,  for  thine  is  the  majesty,  the  glory,  and 
the  dominion,  now  and  forever.     Amen  I 


346  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKXETT,  is5-2 

After  this,  we  went  into  the  room  where  my  dear  wife  breathed 
her  last,  where  my  sorrowful  heart  was  still  bowed  in  awful  rever- 
ence before  the  Almighty.  We  then  went  and  took  a  view  of  my 
household  goods,  and  my  heart  was  still  melted  with  sorrow  in  be- 
holding so  many  things  which  my  dear  wife  had  handled  with  her 
own  hands.  We  then  went  into  the  parlor  where  I  took  my  final 
leave  of  my  dear  wife  and  a  number  of  our  near  and  dear  relatives 
and  some  other  dear  worthy  Friends;  and  in  remembering  that  five 
out  of  thaf  lovely  company  who  were  before  me  when  I  took  my 
farewell  leave  of  them,  are  now  in  eternity,  all  witliin  me  was 
melted  down  as  into  dust  and  ashes:  and  after  this,  on  the  next  day, 
being  First-day,  I  attended  our  ]\[eeting  for  Worshijj,  and  although 
I  saw  and  felt  in  this  meeting  a  great  change  since  I  left  home, 
yet  I  was  favored  in  gospel  ministry  and  prayer.  Praised  be  the 
Lord  forever! 

After  this,  for  some  time,  the  language  of  my  heart  was  often- 
times: ''I  weep"  '''some  in  the  night,"  and  my  '"tears  are  on"  my 
"cheeks,"  "among  all"  my  "lovers,"  I  have  "none  to  comfort" 
me  like  unto  my  departed  dear  and  very  affectionate  wife.  "Is  it 
nothing  to  you,  all  ye  that  pass  by?  Behold,  and  see  if  there  be 
any  sorrow  like  unto  my  sorrow,  whicli  is  done  unto  me.  wherewitli 
^he  Lord  hath  "permitted  this  deep  affliction  to  come  upon  me. 
For  this  affliction  I  weep  deeply;'"  "mine  eye  runneth  down  Avitli 
water."  "Behold,  0  Lord,  for  I  am  in  distress,"  and  "mine  heart 
is  turned  within  me,"  and  "my  soul  hath"  "still  in  remembrance" 
my  sore  bereavement,  "and  is  humbled  in  me."  "This  I  recall  to 
my  mind"  in  remembrance  of  thy  mercy  towards  me,  "therefore 
liave  I  hope."  I  know  that  "it  is  of"  thy  "mercy  tliaf  I  am  "not 
consumed,  l)ecause"  thy  "compassions  fail  not."  "They  are  new 
every  morning;  great  is  tliy  faithfulness."  Thou  art  "my  portion, 
saith  my  soul;  therefore  will  I  hope  in"  thee,  for  "thou  hast  heard 
my  voice,  hide  not  thine  ear  at  my  breathing,  at  my  cry,'"  for 
"thou  drewest  near  in  the  day  that  I  called  upon  thee."  "Thou 
hast  pleaded  the  causes  of  my  soul,  tliou  liast  redeemed  my  life." 
"Remember,  0  Lord,  what  is  come  upon'"  me,  "and  behold"'  in  thy 
great  mercy  my  solitary  situation  in  life,  and  open  in  thy  wisdoui 
some  way  for  my  outward  comfort  while  in  this  world. 

1  will  "seek  unto  Cfod,  and  unto"' him  I  will  "commit  my  cause,"' 
"which  doeth  great  things  and  unsearchable,  marvelous  things 
without  number;  who  giveth  rain  upon  the  earth,  and  sendeth 
waters  upon  the  fields;'"  who  sitteth  "upon  high  those  that  l)e  low, 
that  those  which  mourn  may  be  exalted  to  safety,"  "for  he  maketh 
sore  and  bindeth  up;  he  woundeth,  and  his  hands  make  whole." 
0,  that  I  may  more  and  more  be  faithful  before  him,  and  do  all  his 
holy  will,  that  I  may  be  accouTited  worthy  under  his  mercy  to  come 
to  ray  "grave  in  a  full  age,  like  as  a  shock  of  corn  cometh  in  his 
season,"  for  "now  my  days  are  swifter  than  a  post,  they  fiec  away'" 


1852  JOL'llXAL    OF   THOMAS    AR.VHTT.  347 

one  after  another,  and  will  never  to  me  again  return.  0,  saith  my 
spirit,  "that  I  were  as  in  months  past,  as  in  the  days''  when  God 
blessed  me  with  a  kind,  affectionate  and  sympathizing  wife,  but 
'•'now  my  soul  is  poured  out  upon  me;"  "he  hath  cast  me  into  the 
mire,  and  I  am  become  like  dust  and  ashes,"  "for  I  know  that  thou 
wilt  bring  me  to  death,  and  to  the  house  appointed  for  all  living. '^ 
"Let  me"  therefore  "be  weighed  in  an  even  balance,  that  God  may 
know  mine  integrity."  for  behold  he  seeth  all  my  ways  and  counteth 
all  my  ste]is,"  for  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth,"  "and  though 
after  my  skin,  worms  destroy  this  body,  yet  in  my  flesh  shall  I  see 
God,  whom  I  shall  see  for  myself,  and  mine  eyes  shall  behold,  and 
not  another,  though  my  veins  be  consumed  within  me."  and  I  now 
mourn  deeply  under  my  affliction. 

I  will  therefore  more  and  more  quietly  hope,  in  the  obedience  of 
faith,  in  the  glorious  resurrection  of  the  just,  having  my  "conver- 
sation" "in  heaven,  from  whence  also"  I  "look  for  the  Saviour,  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  shall  change"  my  "vile  body,  that  it  may 
be  fashioned  like  unto  his  glorious  body,  according  to  the  working 
whereby  he  is  able  even  to  subdue  all  things  unto  himself,"  for  "it 
doth  not  yet  appear  what"  I  "shall  be,"  "but"  I  "know  that  when 
he  shall  appear,"  I  "shall,"  with  all  other  saints,  "be  like  him," 
for  all  the  faithful  and  sanctified  believers  in  his  name,  in  the  great 
and  general  day  of  judgment,  "shall  see  him  as  he  is." 

"Although,"  saith  my  spirit,  "the  fig  tree  shall  not  blossom, 
neither  shall  fruit  be  in  the  vines;  the  fields  shall  yield  no  meat; 
the  flock  shall  be  cut  off  from  the  fold,  and  there  shall  be  no  herd 
in  the  stalls,  yet,"  under  all  my  afflictions  and  privations,  "I  will 
rejoice  in  the  Lord.  I  will  joy  in  the  God  of  my  salvation;  the  Lord 
God  is  my  strength,  and  he  will  make  my  feet  like  hinds'  feet,  and 
he  will  make  me  to  walk  upon  mine  high  places;'"  even  the  high 
and  holy  way  cast  up  before  me  in  the  Avisdom  of  truth,  wherein  I 
need  not  fear  what  man  can  do  or  say  about  me,  for  he  only  can 
have  great  tranquility  who  walks  upon  the  high  and  holy  ground, 
and  abides  in  the  name  of  God,  whose  happiness  depends  not  on 
the  praise  and  dispraise  of  man.  If  his  conscience  be  pure  he  would 
be  contented  in  every  condition,  and  undisturbed  by  the  opinions 
and  reports  of  man  concerning  him,  for  man's  commendations  can 
add  nothing  to  his  holiness,  nor  his  censures  take  anything  from  it. 
What  he  is,  he  is;  nor  can  the  praise  of  the  whole  world  make  him 
greater  in  the  sight  of  God.  The  more,  therefore,  his  attention  is 
fixed  upon  the  true  state  of  his  spirit,  the  less  will  he  regard  what 
is  said  of  him  in  the  world.  Man  looks  only  on  the  face,  but  God 
looks  on  and  searches  the  heart, — man  considers  only  the  outward 
act,  but  God  the  inward  principle  from  which  it  springs. 

Let  me  therefore  more  and  more, — in  the  hope  and  in  the  faith 
of  the  glorious  and  everlasting  gospel,  under  all  the  circumstances 
of  this  life, — seek  ever  to  be  accounted  worthy  to  walk,  Avhile  in 


348  J0U1{XAL    OF   THOMAS    AKNETT.  1852 

this  life,  in  the  high  and  holy  way  cast  up  for  the  righteous  in  eveiy 
age  of  the  world  through  the  mercy  of  him  '"who  hath  measured 
the  waters  in  the  hollow  of  his  hand,  and  meted  out  heaven  with 
the  span,  and  comprehend  the  dust  of  the  earth  in  a  measure,  and 
weighed  the  mountains  in  scales  and  the  hills  in  a  balance,''  for  ''it 
is  he"  alone  ''that  sitteth  upon  the  circle  of  the  earth,  and  the  in- 
habitants thereof  are  as  grasshoppers;  that  stretcheth  out  the 
heavens  as  a  curtain,  and  sj^readeth  them  out  as  a  tent  to  dwell  in. 
Praised  be  his  name  forevermore!     Amen. 

It  appears  to  me  in  many  instances  that  Great  Britain  is  now  one 
of  the  most  interesting  spots  of  all  our  mighty  and  stuj)endous 
globe.  Her  vast  wealth,  her  splendor  in  many  instances,  and  the 
various  distinctions  in  civil  and  religious  society  therein  mani- 
fested, from  the  crown  down  to  the  poor,  ragged  and  solitary  beg- 
gar— the  appearance  of  these  things  to  me  was  humbling  and  im- 
posing, for  I  saw  not  only  the  Queen  thereof,  her  husband  and  their 
children,  but  also  the  various  ranks  and  stations  in  civil  and  relig- 
ious society,  down  to  the  poor,  degraded  beggars,  who  appeared  to 
be  dependent  on  the  benevolence  of  the  people  for  their  support. 

In  traveling  to  and  fro  on  this  conspicuous  island  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  a  gospel  mission,  the  mercy  and  the  judgment  of  God  mani- 
fested to  the  people  of  this  island  in  former  ages  were  often  brought 
to  my  remembrance,  with  a  conviction,  I  believe,  raised  in  nw  heart 
through  the  operation  of  the  spirit  of  truth,  that  God  hath  a  seed, 
a  precious  seed,  scattered  abroad  therein,  and  he  hath  a  people 
there  in  the  various  Christian  and  evangelical  denominations,  that 
fear  his  name  and  walk  in  his  ways:  a  people  who  oftentimes  do 
Worship  him  in  spirit  and  in  truth;  and  with  these  precious  ones, 
both  among  Friends  and  others,  I  felt  myself  sweetly  united  in  a 
degree  of  that  love  which  preserves  unity  and  harmony,  not  only 
among  all  the  hosts  of  the  heavenly  intelligences,  but  also  among 
all  the  family  of  the  household  of  faith  and  gospel  fellowship,  where 
it  has  the  entire  reign  and  government  in  the  heart. 

And  these  dear  brethren  and  sisters  manifested  towards  me  the 
warmest  friendship,  unity,  kindness,  tender  Christian  sympathy, 
and  a  desire  for  my  preservation  and  encouragement  on  every  hand; 
and  very  often  was  my  soul  poured  out  in  prayer  and  sui)plication 
on  behalf  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  island,  under  a  i)elief  that  not- 
withstanding the  existing  sin  and  iniquity  abounding  therein,  yet 
God  will  again  and  again  extend  his  mercy,  judgment  and  visitation 
to  this  island,  and  cause  righteousness  more  and  more  to  branch 
out  therefrom,  less  or  more  throughout  the  earth,  till  the  kingdoms 
of  this  world  shall  become  subservient  to  the  controlling  power  and 
government  of  the  adorable  Prince  of  Peace. 

AVhile  traveling  in  Europe  on  a  gospel  mission,  friends  were  care- 
ful on  all  occasions  to  see  me  furnished  with  suitable  company  and 
with  every  other  necessary  accommodation  throughout  the  whole 


1852  JOURNA].   OF   THOMAS   AKNETT.  34'.> 

journey,  that  appeared  to  be  neeilful  to  promote  the  prosecution  of 
the  weighty  concern  resting  upon  me  for  the  good  of  souls. 

In  passing  from  place  to  place  among  Friends  in  Great  Britain, 
Ireland  and  elsewhere,  I  have  been  affected  with  sorrow  when  my 
lot  has  been  cast  in  the  families  of  Friends  where  I  have  met  with 
so  much  lukewarmness  that  there  appeared  to  be  no  disposition 
manifested  to  converse  on  religious  subjects;  and  many  such  fami- 
lies I  have  found  in  my  travels  in  our  religious  society  over  whom  I 
have  mourned  with  much  heaviness  of  spirit;  and  such  of  our  mem- 
bers, without  a  reformation  in  the  light  of  truth,  will  never  grow 
in  the  grace  of  God,  nor  in  the  knowledge  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
because  they  neglect  one  of  the  most  imj^ortant  religious  duties  as 
inculcated  by  the  great  head  of  the  church,  in  this  language: 
•'  Hear,  0  Israel,  the  Lord  our  God  is  our  Lord,  and  thou  shalt 
love  the  Lord  as  thy  God  with  all  thine  heart,  and  with  all  thy  soul, 
and  with  all  thy  might:  and  these  words,  which  I  command  thee 
this  day,  shall  be  in  thine  heart,  and  thou  shalt  teach  them  dili- 
gently unto  thy  children,  and  shalt  talk  of  them  when  tlK)u  sittest 
in  their  house,  and  when  thou  walkest  by  the  way,  and  when  thou 
liest  down,  and  when  thou  sittest  up,  and  thou  shalt  bind  them  for 
a  sign  upon  thine  hand,  and  they  shall  ))e  as  frontlets  between  thine 
eyes."  What  a  sorrowful  consideration  it  is  that  so  many  of  our 
numbers  live  in  the  daily  neglect  of  this  very  important  religious 
duty,  manifesting  by  conduct  and  conversation  more  concern  for  the 
things  of  this  world  than  to  live  daily  in  the  peace  and  love  of  the 
everlasting  God  ;  for  according  to  the  testimony  of  truth  it  appears 
that  "they  that  feared  the  Lord  spake  often  one  to  another,  and 
the  Lord  hearkened,  and  heard  it,  and  a  book  of  remembrance  was 
written  before  him  for  them  that  feared  the  Lord,  and  that  thought 
upon  his  name."  This  is  the  experience,  I  believe  of  all  the  chil- 
dren of  the  Shepherd  of  Israel  in  every  age  of  the  world.  Nothing 
can  more  interest  and  delight  them  than  to  be  engaged  in  the  duty 
of  the  morning  and  the  evening  sacrifice  of  family  worship  as  well 
as  in  ail  their  other  domestic  relation  and  religious  duties,  they 
with  purity  of  heart  meditate  in  the  law  of  God  both  day  and  night, 
and  out  of  such  sweet  meditation  will  flow  oftentimes,  as  out  of 
a  hidden  treasury,  that  edifying  conversation  which  springs  up 
under  the  power  of  the  cross  of  Christ,  and  thereby  the  great  and 
iioly  name  will  be  magnified,  and  they  more  and  more  mutually 
helped  and  strengthened  in  the  way  of  life  and  salvation. 

In  closing  this  account  in  regard  to  my  gospel  mission  and  la))ors 
to  the  people  of  Europe,  I  will  here  give  a  place  for  tlie  record  of  the 
testimony  of  those  professing  with  Friends  in  France,  in  regard  to 
my  service  in  that  country,  which  was  duly  furnished  to  me. 

Dear  Friends :  We  write  to  you  in  a  feeling  of  deep  gratitude  to  the 
Lord,  in  that  it  hath  pleased  him  to  send  among  us  in  his  mercy 
our  dear  and  much  esteemed  friend  Thomas  Arnett,  to  visit  us  in 


350  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    AKNETT.  1852 

the  love  of  the  gospel.  The  labors  of  this  dear  friend  among  us, 
both  private  and  public,  have  been  to  man}'  a  great  spiritual  advan- 
tage. His  conversation  and  his  ministry  in  our  meetings,  as  well 
as  in  those  for  the  public  held  at  his  request,  have  given  proof  that 
this  dear  friend  has  been  led  and  guided  by  the  spirit  of  the  Lord. 
We  desire  that  our  God  may  continue  to  bless  him  and  to  make 
him  more  and  more  an  instrument  of  good  among  his  people. 

In  the  name  of  the  two  months'  meeting,  held  at  Congenirs  the 
19th  day  of  the  First  month.  1851. 

And  signed  on  behalf  thereof,  by 

Jules  Paradon,  Provisional  Secretary. 

I  beseech  thee.  0  holy  and  glorious  God,  to  remember  mercifully 
how  I  have  walked  before  thee  in  the  prosecution  of  thy  truth,  with 
a  sincere  desire  to  serve  thee  with  a  perfect  heart  and  with  a  willing 
mind.  Remember  also  my  deep  afflictions,  for  I.  have  no  one  upon 
the  earth  to  whom  I  can  unbosom  the  sorrows  of  my  heart;  but  in 
a  solitary  place,  '"like  a  crane  or  a  swallow,"  oftentimes  do  "I  chat- 
ter" in  my  heart  before  thee,  and  "'mourn  as  a  dove,"  so  that  "mine 
eyes  fail  Avith  looking  upward."  "0  Lord,"  "undertake  for  me," 
"thou  hast  in  love  to  my  soul  delivered  it  from  the  pit  of  corrup- 
tion, for  thou  hast  cast  all  my  sins  behind  thy  back."  Worthy  is 
thy  name  forever  I 

Bless,  I  pray  thee,  all  the  labor  Avhich  I  have  performed  in  the 
love  of  thy  glorious  and  everlasting  gospel,  so  that  souls  tJiereby 
may  be  gathered  into  thy  heavenly  and  ever  blessed  kingdom. 

0  Lord,  my  God,  thou  art  my  supreme  and  consummate  good; 
and  who  am  I,  that  I  should  presume  to  open  my  lips  before  thee? 
I  am  thy  least  and  most  unprofitaljle  servant,  for  I  have  done 
nothing  to  merit  thy  salvation,  yet  remember  me,  0  Lord,  and  have 
mercy  upon  me.  for  without  thee  I  can  do  nothing.  Thou  art  alone 
just,  holy  and  good;  thy  power  is  infinite,  and  the  manifestations  of 
it  boundless;  thou  fillest  all  things.  0,  therefore,  more  and  more 
fill  my  heart  with  thy  love  and  with  thy  peace.  0,  turn  not  thy 
face  from  me;  delay  not  thy  fatherly  visitation,  and  suspend  not  the 
consolation  of  thy  spirit,  and  let  me  daily  grow  stronger  and 
stronger  in  thy  grace  and  in  true  saving  faith.  Let  tliy  truth 
teach,  protect  and  preserve  me  to  my  final  redemption,  and  let  it 
deliver  me  from  every  evil  temper  and  inordinate  desire,  so  that  I 
may  walk  before  thee  in  the  glorious  liberty  of  thine  everlasting 
gospel. 

1  bless  thee.  0  heavenly  Father,  the  father  of  my  Lord  and 
Saviour  .Jesus  Christ,  that  thou  hast  vouchsafed  to  remember  so 
poor  and  so  unworthy  a  creature  as  I  am!  0  Father  of  mercies  and 
God  of  all  consolation,  I  give  thee  most  humble  thanks,  that,  un- 
worthy as  I  am  of  all  comfort,  thou  hast  been  pleased  to  visit  my 
soul  with  the  light  of  thy  countenance  oftentimes  in  my  pilgrimage 
life.     I  ascribe  to  thee,  0  God,  and  to  thy  well-beloved  Son,  and 


1852  JOUKNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  351 

thy  Holy  Spirit,  the  comforter^  blessing,  praise  and  glory  forever  and 
ever. 

0  Lord,  my  God.  from  thy  instructions  and  my  own  experience, 
I  learn  the  most  absolute  necessity  of  patience,  for  this  fallen  state 
is  full  of  adversity  and  temptation. 

Send  me  thy  spirit,  most  merciful  Saviour,  from  the  throne  of 
thy  glory,  that  it  may  be  present  luith  me  and  labor  with  me,  and  il- 
luminate, sanctify  and  bless  me  forever.  Enable  me  always  to  will 
and  desire  that  which  is  most  dear  ami  acceptable  to  thee;  let  thy 
will  be  wholly  mine,  and  let  it  reign  in  me  to  thy  glory  and  to  thy 
honor. 

Open  my  heart,  0  Lord,  in  thy  law,  and  teach  me  to  walk  in 
thy  commandments.  Give  me  understanding  to  know  thy  will, 
iind  to  remember,  with  faithful  recollection  and  profound  rever- 
ence, thy  innumerable  benefits  and  blessings  granted  mercifully  to 
me  all  my  life  long,  and  lift  up  the  light  of  thy  countenance  upon 
my  soul,  that  every  thought  in  me  which  is  vain  may  vanish  be- 
fore it.  This  is  my  strength  and  comfort,  to  fly  to  thee  in  every 
tribulation  and  distress,  to  confide  in  thy  support,  to  call  upon  thee 
from  the  lowest  depths  of  my  heart,  and  patiently  wait  for  the 
superior  consolations  of  thy  good  spirit. 

0  God,  uphold  me  with  thy  free  spirit,  strengthen  me  with  might 
in  the  inner  man.  0  send  me  thy  wisdom  from  the  throne  of  thy 
glory,  that  I  may  seek  to  know  thee  altogether;  that  I  may  love  thee 
and  delight  in  thee  above  all  things,  and  that  I  may  understand 
more  and  more  all  thy  will  concerning  me  Avhile  in  this  fallen,  tribu- 
lating  world. 

0  my  God,  what  a  sujjerior  portion  of  grace  do  I  still  want  to  be 
able  continually  to  turn  to  thee  when  trouble  comes,  for  I  am  poor 
jind  needy.  0  eternal  light,  infinitely  surpassing  all  that  thou 
illuminatest,  let  thy  brightest  beams  descend  upon  my  heart  and 
penetrate  its  inmost  recesses.  0  purify,  exhilerate,  enlighten  and 
enliven  my  spirit,  that  with  all  its  powers  it  may  adhere  to  thee 
in  raptures  of  triumphant  joy.  When  I  am  cast  down  in  spirit, 
and  when  this  world  frowns  upon  me,  0  then  protect  and  sustain 
me,  to  the  comfort  of  my  soul. 

0  my  God,  what  is  my  confidence  in  this  life,  and  what  my  com- 
fort in  the  possession  and  enjoyment  of  all  things  under  heaven? 
Is  it  not  thee  alone,  whose  mercies  are  without  number  and  without 
measure?  In  the  multitude  of  thy  tender  mercies,  turn  unto  me, 
and  hear  the  prayer  of  thy  poor  unworthy  and  afflicted  servant, 
and  more  and  more  in  thy  mercy  turn  all  my  adversity  and  calamity 
to  the  glory  and  to  the  advancement  of  thy  good  and  righteous  cause 
in  the  earth. 

0  my  God,  let  thy  good  spirit  more  and  more  so  effectually  work 
in  my  soul  both  day  and  night,  both  to  will  and  to  do  of  thy  good 
pleasure,  so  that  under  all  the  circumstances  of  this  life,  the  ac- 


352  JOURXAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  18.52 

ktiowleclgcment  of  this  testimony,  in  true  and  saving  faith  in  thy 
name,  may  be  my  blessed  experience.  I  liave  learned,  in  whatso- 
ever state  I  am,  therewith  to  be  content. 

0  worthy  and  adorable  Saviour,  the  righteous  Advocate  with  the 
Father,  and  the  merciful  Mediator  between  Cod  and  men.  advocate 
for  me,  I  beseech  thee,  a  poor,  unworthy  worm  of  the  dust ;  and 
let  thy  good  spirit  so  operate  in  my  heart  that  a  disposition  maj^  Ije 
wrought  in  me.  that  when  thou  art  pleased  in  any  way  to  call  me 
forth  in  the  public  labor  of  thy  glorious  and  everlasting  gospel,  there 
may  be  in  me  a  ready  obedience  of  faith  to  go  forth  in  thy  holy 
name,  in  the  light  of  thy  countenance,  and  in  the  power  and  au- 
thority of  thy  all-sufflcieiit  word:  and  let  me,  under  thy  holy  con- 
trol and  government,  brighten  up  in  the  spirit  of  my  mind  more 
and  more^  so  that  my  latter  day  maybe,  under  thy  mercy  and  grace, 
my  best  dav;  and  let  all  my  future  life  tend  more  and  more  to  the 
glorv  of  thy  name  and  the  honor  of  thy  cause. 

0"  Lord,  my  God,  I  beseech  thee,  mercifully  to  bless  my  latter  end 
more  than  my  beginning;  and  neither  ''forsake  me"  nor  be  "far 
from  me,"  for  without  thee  I  can  do  nothing;  but  in  thy  name,  and 
in  the  peace  of  the  love  of  thy  gospel,  I  can  bear  all  things;  where- 
fore, in  the  obedience  of  faith,  "'I  commit  the  keeping  of"  my 
])recious  soul  to  thee,  "in  well  doing  as  unto  a  faithful  Creator." 
Praised  be  thy  name  forever.     Amen. 

1  have  in  all  my  extended  travels  and  labors,  in  the  mission  of 
the  glorious  and  everlasting  gospel,  acknowledged  in  the  spirit  of 
Christian  charity,  true  and  sincere  Christians  of  every  church  as 
my  brethren  and  sisters  beloved  in  the  Lord;  for,  according  to  the 
testimony  of  Scriptures,  all  true  Christians  who  are  regenerate,  who 
really  believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  desires  to  obey  his  com- 
mandments, according  to  the  degree  of  light  afforded  them,  are 
subjects  of  his  spiritual  kingdom,  and  members  of  his  universal 
church;  for  he  hatli  said,  "there  shall  be  one  fold,  and  one  Shep- 
herd." Whatever  may  be  their  advantages  or  disadvantages,  their 
reputation,  or  disrepute  among  their  fellow  ])eings,  or,  to  express 
the  same  in  spiritual  language,  the  members  of  the  true  churcli 
of  Christ  are  those  everywhere,  who  have  been  "  l)aptized  by  our 
spirit  into  our  body,"  who  believing  in  Christ,  abide  in  him,  as  the 
branches  in  the  vine;  and  who  "hear  his  voice  and  follow  him,"  as 
tiie  sheep  hear  and  follow  their  shepherd. 

Though  Christ's  church  is  termed  universal,  because  limited  to 
no  one  body  of  men,  yet  how  small  is  tlie  number  of  its  real  mem- 
bers, as  compared  with  the  bulk  of  mankind,  or  even  with  the  many 
who  are  his  professed  followers  !  And  Avhy  is  it  thus  ?  but  l)ecause 
in  acts  we  too  often  deny  him  whom  in  words  Ave  acknowledged, 
because  our  hearts  and  lives  are  not  subject  to  his  spirit. 

Notwithstanding  the  l)old  assumption  of  particular  denomina- 
tions or  classes,  it  is  our  high  privilege,  if  we  are  true  Christians. 


1852  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  353 

to  believe  that  ''one  is  our  Master,  even  Christ,  and  tliat  all  we  are 
brethren."  Consoling  and  humbling  is  this  view  of  the  groat 
brotherhood — the  universal  church  of  Christ,  consisting  even  ou 
earth  of  a  ''great  multitude  which  no  man  could  number,  of  all 
nations  and  kindreds,  and  people,  and  tongues/'  "washed  and 
brought  nigh  by  the  blood  of  Christ,"  partakers  of  his  grace  and 
redemption.  And  the  nearer  they  are  brought  to  him,  as  the  com- 
mon center  and  fountain  of  their  faith,  righteousness  and  hope, 
the  nearer,  also,  will  they  assuredly  be  brought,  one  to  another,  in 
him,  and  united  in  a  sense  of  his  heavenly  love.  Is  not  this  "  the 
holy  Catholic  church,"  and  the  true  "communion  of  saints  ?" 

While  each  feels  a  deep  convictiou  of  the  truth  of  that  view  of 
gospel  doctrines  which  he  especially  professes,  and  a  living  interest 
in  its  wide  diffusion,  his  heart  is  expanded  with  love  to  others,  who 
hold  the  great  truths  of  our  common  religion  in  a  devout  Chris- 
tian temper,  but  who  may  yet  in  some  respects  differ  from  him  in 
the  mode  of  apprehending  or  expressing  them.  He  cannot,  indeed, 
have  fellowship  with  darkness  and  error,  but  feels  bound  to  reprove 
them;  yet  he  can  thankfully  unite  with  that  which  is  truly  good  in 
whomsoever  it  is  found,  and  can  rejoice  in  its  existence  and  ex- 
tention.  Painfully  sensible  that  he  himself  is  not  free  from  igno- 
rance, frailties  and  infirmities,  he  will  be  ready  to  make  allowance 
for  defects  in  others,  whose  advantages  may  not  have  been  equal  to 
his  own;  remembering  the  searching  apj)eal  of  our  Lord,  "let  him 
that  is  without  sin  cast  the  first  stone." 

So  diversified  are  we  in  the  constitution  of  our  minds,  in  the 
measure  and  nature  of  our  gifts,  and  in  the  tendency  of  education 
and  experienne,  that  it  is  not  to  be  expected,  in  this  imperfect  state, 
even  with  the  same  good  spirit  for  influence  and  direction,  that  all 
men  should  perceive  or  feel  exactly  alike.  As  there  is  a  pleasing 
variety  in  the  outward  and  material  system,  so,  doubtless,  differ- 
ences were  wisely  permitted  in  the  mental  and  spiritual  constitu- 
tion, and  must,  in  the  nature  of  things,  exist,  for  good  hidden 
purposes. 

While,  therefore,  we  hold  fast  the  truth  as  made  known  to  our- 
selves, let  us  regard  charitably  all  the  differing  results  of  the  pres- 
ent varied  organizations,  and  thankfully  accept  those  means  which 
an  All-wise  Creator  has  placed  within  our  reach  for  the  harmony, 
the  happiness  and  the  benefit  of  ourselves  and  of  others. 

Even  in  the  apostolic  times,  the  views  of  all  the  believers  did  not 
exactly  accord  on  every  point.  Some  esteemed  one  day  above 
another,  others  esteemed  every  day  alike.  One  believed  that  he 
might  eat  all  things — another,  who  was  weak,  restricted  himself  to 
herbs.  Which  of  them  had  authority  to  determine  that  his  own 
view  alone  was  right,  and  that  all  other  views  were  wrong?  or  to 
thank  God  that  he  was  not  as  other  men  were  ?  or  to  condemn  the 
rest  as  heretics  or  schismatics  ?    The  injunction  of  the  Apostle 


354  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARXETT.  1852 

Paul  was,  that  they  should  not  judge  or  despise  one  another,  but 
that  every  man  should  be  fully  persuaded  in  his  own  mind. 

And,  indeed,  inconsiderable  and  occasional  difference  of  senti- 
ment, when  allowed  to  operate  rightly,  by  constraining  us  to  ex- 
amine more  closely  our  own  experience  and  evidence,-tcnd,  through 
the  power  of  divine  grace,  to  strengthen  our  standing  and  to  call 
up  some  of  the  finer  feelings  of  the  chastened  mind,  in  humiliation 
of  self  and  in  charity  towards  others.  As  the  various  but  nicely 
adjusted  physical  influences  retain  the  heavenly  bodies  in  beautiful 
order  in  the  firmament,  each  occupying  its  right  position  and  pur- 
suing its  respective  orbit,  so  may  the  different  states  and  well-bal- 
anced attractions  of  Christian  feeling,  operate  under  the  divine 
blessing  on  the  humble  and  obedient  mind,  tending,  without  com- 
promise or  unfaithfulness,  to  maintain  in  harmony  denominational 
zeal  on  the  one  hand,  with  a  good  degree  of  charity  and  fellowshi}) 
towards  all  who  may  in  some  respects  differ,  on  the  other;  and  j)re- 
scrving  alike  close  attention  to  individual  judgment  and  duty, 
amidst  general  forbearance,  moderation  and  love. 

To  the  maintainance  of  entire  religious  duty,  two  elements  appear 
to  be  essential — the  one,  an  agreement  on  the  doctrine  entertained; 
and  the  other,  a  right  frame  of  mind  to  uphold  them.  Full  Chris- 
tian fellowship  depends  greatly  on  the  amount  of  both,  and  is  ob- 
structed by  a  deficiency  in  either.  Even  a  large  degree  of  ortho- 
doxy may  be  professed  in  a  pharisaical  self-righteous  spirit,  and  the 
truth  may  be  held  in  unrighteousness;  while,  on  the  other  hand, 
f-o  great  is  the  divine  condescension  that,  though  the  spiritual  eye 
may  be  but  partially  opened  to  the  discoveries  of  divine  truth,  and 
may  be  able  to  see  men  as  trees  walking,  yet  the  heart  may  be 
Avarmed  and  expanded  with  the  influences  of  heavenly  love.  Be- 
tween such,  if  they  truly  love  Christ,  though  they  may  not  see 
altogether  alike,  there  may  be  a  consoling  degree  of  Christian  unity 
and  charity.  How  many  of  us,  alas,  are  in  this  half-enlightened 
condition,  for  want  of  maintaining  a  larger  measure  of  faith  and 
obedience!  Well  is  it  for  all,  in  this  state  of  limited  apprehension, 
in  which  we  see  but  in  part,  often  to  remember  the  vision  sent  for 
the  instruction  of  Peter,  that  zealous  Israelite,  that  he  might  not 
judge  severely  and  partially,  when  the  voice  came  to  him  from 
heaven,  "What  God  hath  cleansed,  that  call  thou  not  common." 
We  shall  then  be  brought  to  confess  with  him,  "that  God  is  no 
resi)ecter  of  persons,  but  in  every  nation  he  that  feareth  him  and 
worketh  righteousness  is  accepted  with  him." 

The  humble  believer  will  desire  to  bear  in  mind  that  all  are  par- 
takers of  divine  benevolence  and  light,  that  Christ  died  for  all; 
that  the  grace  of  God  has  appeared  to  all  men,  and  that  to  his  own 
master  every  man  must  stand  or  fall ;  thankfully  sensible  that  the 
re(|uirements  from  each  will  be  in  just  proportion  to  the  degree  of 
grace  and  opportunity  afforded,  he  will  rejoice  in  the  assurance  that 


1852  JOLKNAJv    OF    THOMAS    ARNETT.  355 

the  universal  church  of  Christ  knows  no  natural  distinction  of 
color,  clime,  class  or  people;  that  God  giveth  to  all  men  liberally, 
and  upbraideth  not;  and  that  all' are  invited  to  be  fellow  partakers 
of  life  and  salvation.  If  tempted  to  inquire,  ''and  wduit  shall  this 
man  do  ?"  he  will  recollect  that  the  reprehensive  answer  was,  "  What 
is  that  to  thee  ?  Follow  thou  me."  And  while  endeavoring  closely 
to  fulfill  his  own  convictions  of  the  truth,  he  will  humbly  rejoice  to 
say,  "  Grace  be  with  them  that  love  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  with 
sincerit3^ 

The  true  church  of  Christ  consists  of  members  of  all  the  visible 
churches  in  the  whole  world,  who,  in  the  sincerity  of  their  hearts, 
perform  the  will  of  God,  and  serve  him  both  day  and  night  with  a 
perfect  heart  and  with  a  willing  mind;  walking  with  him  in  the 
obedience  of  faith,  according  to  the  teaching  and  the  leading  of  his 
good  spirit,  manifested  in  their  hearts,  being  faithful  in  the  way 
of  the  path  of  the  just,  which  is  as  the  shining  light  that  shineth 
more  and  more  unto  the  perfect  day,  living  nigh  him  in  the  spirit 
of  their  minds,  and  near  one  another  in  the  unity  of  the  spirit, 
in  the  bond  of  peace. 

These  will  be  finally  accepted,  whatever  denomination  or  name 
they  may  have  borne  among  men,  and  will,  in  a  glorified  state,  form 
part  of  that  great  company,  which  the  evangelist,  in  the  vision  of 
God,  saw  gathered  before  him,  even  "a  grccit  multitude  which  no 
man  could  number,  of  all  nations,  and  kindreds,  and  people,  and 
tongues,"  surrounding  the  throne  and  uniting  in  the  song  of  "  sal- 
vation" and  of  "worship." 

And  it  was  made  known  to  the  evangelist  that  "these  are  they 
which  came  out  of  great  tribulation,  and  have  washed  their  robes 
and  made  them  white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb  ;  therefore  are  they 
before  the  throne  of  God,  and  serve  him  day  and  night  in  his  tem- 
ple, and  he  that  sitteth  on  the  throne  shall  dwell  among  them  ; 
they  shall  hunger  no  more,  neither  thirst  any  more  ;  neither  shall 
the  sun  light  on  them,  nor  any  heat;  for  the  Lamb  which  is  in  the 
midst  of  the  throne  shall  feed  them,  and  shall  lead  them  unto  liv- 
ing fountains  of  waters  ;  and  God  shall  wipe  away  all  tears  from 
their  eyes."     Blessed  be  his  name  forevermore  ! 

The  rise  and  progress  of  the  Christian  church  is  a  scene  of  won- 
ders and  admiration.  The  dreadful  persecution  which  assailed  it  in 
the  beginning  is  suificient  to  show  that  had  not  God  himself  been 
the  founder  and  the  supporter  thereof,  it  never  could  have  been 
preserved  in  branching  out  so  wondrously  among  the  civilized  na- 
tions of  the  earth.  Jesus  Christ  himself  was  exposed  to  this  perse- 
cution in  the  greatest  degree.  After  his  death,  resurrection,  and 
ascension,  the  apostles  suffered  every  evil  which  the  malice  of  the 
Jews  could  invent,  and  their  mad  zeal  execute.  Like  their  holy 
and  divine  Master,  they  w^ere  despised  and  rejected  of  men,  and 
treated  with  the  utmost  indignity,  cruelty,  persecution  and  con- 
tempt. 


356  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  1*52 

The  liistory  of  the  apostolic  church  is  a  series  of  wonders. 
Every-thing  that  could  prevent  such  a  church  from  being 
established,  or  could  overthrow  'it  when  established,  is  brought 
to  bear  against  it.  The  instruments  emploN^ed  in  its  erec- 
tion and  defense  had  neither  might  nor  power,  but  what  came  im- 
mediately from  God.  They  work,  and  (rod  works  with  them  and 
through  them.  The  church  is  founded  and  built  up  in  the  most 
holy  faith,  and  its  adversaries,  with  every  advantage  in  their  favor, 
cannot  overthrow  it.  Is  it  possible  to  look  at  this  without  seeing 
the  mighty  hand  of  God  in  the  whole?  He  permits  devils  and. 
wicked  men  to  work;  to  avail  themselves  of  all  their  advantages, 
yet  counterworks  all  their  plots  and  designs,  turns  their  weapons 
against  themselves,  and  2)romotes  his  cause  by  the  very  means  that 
were  used  to  destroy  it.  How  true  is  the  saying  :  There  is  neither 
might  nor  counsel  against  the  Lord. 

This  ancient  promise  has  been  abundantly  realized  in  the  experi- 
ence of  the  true  church  of  God  in  every  age  of  the  world.  ''As  thy 
days,  so  shall  thy  strength  be.  There  is  none  like  unto  the  God  of 
Jerusalem,  who  rideth  upon  the  heaven  in  th}'  help,  and  in  his  ex- 
cellency on  the  sky.  The  eternal  God  is  thy  refuge,  and  under- 
neath are  the  everlasting  arms;  and  he  shall  thrust  out  the  enemy 
from  before  thee,  and  shall  say,  destroy  them." 

The  apostle  describes  the  true  and  living  members  of  the  church 
of  Christ  "as  lively  stones,"  who  "are  built  up  a  spiritual  house, 
an  holy  priesthood,  to  offer  up  spiritual  sacrifices,  acceptable  to  God 
by  Jesus  Christ."  The  true  and  upright  believers  in  the  church 
are  they  who  have  been  "washed,"  and  "sanctified,"  and  "justi- 
fied in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  by  the  spirit  of  our  God," 
whose  "  conversation  is  in  heaven;  from  whom  also  "  they  "  look 
for  the  Saviour,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  shall  change  our  vile 
l)ody,  that  it  may  be  fashioned  like  unto  his  glorious  body,  accord- 
ing to  tlie  working  whereby  he  is  able  even  to  subdue  all  things 
unto  himself.^' 

The  glory  of  the  church  of  God,  under  the  Christian  dispensa- 
tion, consists  not  in  stately  buildings,  and  rich  furniture,  for  tliis 
agrees  not  with  its  spiritual  nature.  Its  true  and  genuine  beauty 
is  to  grow  in  spirituality,  so  as  to  have  the  presence  of  God,  and 
his  glory  filling  it  as  a  cloud,  and  it  has  been  observed  that  the 
more  the  church  grew  in  outward  riches  and  state,  the  less  she 
grew,  or  ratlier  the  more  sensibly  she  abated  in  spiritual  excellencies 
and  holiness. 

In  the  Christian  church  there  is  no  peculiar  office  of  priesthood 
for  offering  sacrifices,  but  his  alone  who  is  the  head  of  it ;  but  this 
dignity  alluded  to  by  the  apostle,  of  an  holy  priesthood  offering  up 
s{)iritual  sacrifices,  is  common  to  all  tliose  who  are  in  Christ  ;  as 
they  are  living  stones  built  on  him,  into  a  si)iritual  house,  so  tliey 
are  priests  and  children    of    that    same    house,  built  \i\)  by  him, 


1852  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  357 

who  is  "amiuister  of  the  sanotnaiy,  and  of   tlie  true  tabernacle, 
which  the  Lord  pitched,  and  not  man." 

Some  time  after  my  return  to  my  own  beloved  country,  a  little 
settling  down  in  the  spirit  of  my  mind  in  the  obedience  of  faith" 
to  feel  for  the  arising  of  the  will  of  the  great  head  of  the  church 
concerning  me — in  this  experience  I  soon  felt  myself  called  upon 
for  renewed  service  in  the  discharge  of  my  religious  duty,  under  a 
concern  which  impressed  me,  to  appoint  and  hold  many  meetings 
for  divine  worshij)  among  Friends  and  others  in  these  parts,  I  sea- 
sonably attended  to  this  concern  in  the  order  of  our  religious 
society,  with  the  unity  and  approbation  of  Friends;  and  in  the 
prosecution  thereof  I  held  many  meetings  for  religious  worship 
among  the  various  Christian  denominations,  visiting  for  this  pur- 
pose pretty  generally  the  cities  and  towns  in  these  parts.  Most  of 
these  meetings  were  largely  attended  and  eminently  owned  by  the 
glorious  and  everlasting  truth,  wherein  the  people  generally  ap- 
peared to  be  glad  and  thankful  again  to  see  me  engaged  in  the 
mission  of  the  gospel  among  them. 

I  abouts  this  time,  and  some  time  prior  thereto,  was  induced 
under  solid  religious  concern  to  take  the  subject  into  serious  con- 
sideration, how  and  where  I  ought  to  spend  my  future  precious 
time,  having  no  home  of  my  own,  and  having  neither  wife  nor 
children  to  comfort  me,  but  being  under  the  necessity  of  living  in 
other  peoples'  houses;  and  although  friends  were  kind  to  me  in 
opening  their  hearts  and  houses  for  my  accommodation,  yet  I  could 
not  feel  satisfied  without  again  having  a  home  of  my  own,  where  I 
could  welcome  and  entertain  my  dear  friends  when  they  should  be 
inclined  to  come  and  see  me. 

While  under  this  weighty  consideration,  waiting  in  the  obedience 
of  faith  for  the  counsel  and  direction  of  divine  wisdom  in  this  very 
important  matter,  this  language  at  length,  I  believe  in  the  wisdom 
of  truth,  saluted  the  ear  of  my  spirit,  that,  "He  who  had  given 
and  had  taken  away  in  the  counsel  of  his  own  wisdom,  hath  already 
anointed  one  to  be  joined  to  thee  in  marriage,  who  shall  comfort 
thee  in  the  evening  of  thy  life."  In  receiving  this  gracious  visita- 
tion, pointing  out  this  pros]3ect  before  me,  I  was  favored  in  the 
obedience  of  faith  to  keep  a  single  eye  thereto,  secretly  pouring  out 
my  soul  in  prayer  and  supplication  to  him  Avho  "searcheth  all 
hearts,  and  understandeth  all  the  imaginations  of  the  thoughts." 
Knowing  that  I  have  none  to  look  to  for  counsel  and  direction  in 
this  weighty  matter  but  to  him  alone,  and  knowing  also  that  he 
who  first  instituted  the  marriage  covenant  could  even  in  this  day  by 
his  good  spirit,  wondrously  and  mysteriously  influence  and  draw 
together,  to  be  united  in  this  union,  to  the  admiration  of  the  wis- 
dom of  man,  and  whom  he  thus  draws  together  for  this  purpose, 
no  person  has  any  right  whatsoever  to  interfere  therewith,  and  also 
whom  he  draws  together  and  unites  in  this  covenant,  '^'^they  are  no 


358  JOURXAL    OF   THOMAS    AKXETT.  1852 

more  twain,  but  one  flesh.  "What,  therefore,  God  hath  joined  to- 
gether, let  no  man  put  asunder;"  neither  let  any  man,  under  any 
^circumstances  whatsoever,  while  a  prospect  of  this  union  is  in 
'view,  and  under  consideration  with  the  believers  in  Christ,  and  sub- 
ject in  true  faith  to  his  wise  direction,  undertake  to  interfere  there- 
with, for  in  so  doing  such  will  disquiet  the  spirit  of  their  own 
minds,  and  in  degree  be  found  guilty  of  sowing  the  seed  of  discord 
and  disunity  in  the  church,  for  whatsoever  interferes  with  and  op- 
poses in  any  degree  the  divine  will,  tends  to  scatter  instead  of 
gathering  into  the  true  sheep-fold  of  Christ;  and  all  the  sanctified 
members  of  tliis  fold  will  more  and  more  be  concerned  in  Christian 
love  to  labor  harmoniously  together  for  the.  advancement  of  truth 
and  righteousness  in  the  earth.     • 

While  meditating  on  this  subject,  with  feelings  of  deep  humility 
in  the  faith  and  in  the  hoi^e  of  tlie  gospel,  with  prayer  and  suppli- 
cation to  be  rightly  directed  in  a  matter  of  so  great  magnitude,  my 
mind  was,  I  believe,  in  the  light  of  truth,  very  affectionately  in 
Christian  love  turned  towards  my  dear,  worth}'  and  affectionate 
friend  Hannah  Hudson,  a  devoted,  intelligent  and  acknowledged 
minister  in  our  religious  society,  and  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Dinah  Hudson,  of  Ireland,  under  whose  Christian  care  she  has  re- 
ceived a  right  training,  and  was  brought  up  in  the  order  of  our 
religious  society,  consistent  with  the  principles  of  truth,  in  connec- 
tion with  a  good,  guarded,  religious  and  literary  education.  And 
as  way  opened  in  the  truth,  I  informed  her  of  my  very  affectionate 
feelings  towards  her,  proposing  for  her  deliberation,  at  the  same 
time,  the  prospect  renewed  in  my  mind  of  our  union  in  the  mar- 
riage covenant,  and  she,  after  a  time  of  solid,  deliberate  religious 
consideration,  informed  me  of  this  proposal  meeting  her  ap])roba- 
tion,  and  the  way  being  clear  on  every  hand  to  consummate  our 
pros[)ect,  we  were  therefore,  in  the  order  of  our  religious  society, 
with  feelings  of  the  deepest  humility,  united  in  the  solemn  cove- 
nant of  marriage  on  the  2d  day  of  the  lltli  month,  1853  in  a 
large  and  highly  favored  meeting  of  Friends  held  at  Miami  meet- 
ing-house, in  Waynesville.  This  meeting  was  crowned  with  the 
power  of  the  glorious  and  everlasting  truth  ;  and  on  the  next  day 
after  our  marriage,  with  thankful  hearts,  we  went  and  commenced 
house-keeping  at  my  own  home  in  Waynesville,  which  I  had  some 
time  prior  to  this  bought  for  our  comfortable  accommodation,  wliere 
we  feel  mutually  comforted  in  spirit,  and  enjoy  that  true  and  sweet 
peace  of  mind  wliicli  this  world  can  neither  give  nor  take  away. 
We  feel  in  the  spirit  of  our  minds  that  the  covenant  of  our  mar- 
riage is  sanctioned  and  recorded  in  the  Lamb's  book  of  life.  Praised 
and  adored  be  liis  great  and  holy  name,  for  he  alone  is  worthy  of 
all  adoration  and  worsliip,  both  now  and  forevermor'e.     Amen, 

After  we  settled  and  commenced  keeping  house,  we  regularly, 
tlirough  a  religious  concern  that  impressed  us,  adopted  the  prac- 


18&1  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AUNKIT.  ooO 

tice  of  sitting  down  together  both  morning  jind  evening  of  every 
day  for  the  purjiose  of  waiting  upon  God  for  the  renewal  of  our 
spiritual  strength,  reading  on  these  occasions  a  suitable  porti(jn 
of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  believing  that  the  observance  of  this  duty' 
is  as  much  called  for  under  divine  grace  as  it  is  to  attend  all 
our  meetings  for  worship  and  discipline  as  they  come  in  course, 
and  in  the  discharge  of  this  duty  we  enjoy  oftentimes  "'the  peace 
of  God  which  passeth  all  understanding."  Praised  forever  be  his 
name ! 

In  the  course  of  this  year,  1854,  many  and  various  were  the  do- 
mestic, relative,  social  and  religious  duties  which  engaged  our 
attention.  Having  recently  settled  ourselves,  therefore  for  awhile 
our  time  was  much  taken  up  in  improving  our  little  home, 
and  in  procuring  the  additional  necessary  household  furniture 
to  render  us  comfortable  at  home,  and  having  also  many 
visits  from  Friends  and  others,  which  were,  in  degree,  mutu- 
ally strengthening  and  satisfactory,  and  in  parting  on  such  oc- 
casions the  language  of  sympathy  and  encouragement  would 
often  be  humbly  reciprocated.  In  addition  to  the  discliarge  of 
these  various  duties,  we,  with  the  unity  of  our  dear  friends,  vis- 
ited, in  gospel  love,  most  of  the  meetings  of  our  quarterly  meet- 
ing, and  also  held,  within  those  limits,  a  considerable  number  of 
meetings  among  those  not  in  religious  profession  with  us.  In  the 
prosecution  of  this  visit  the  Lord's  melting  power  attended  our 
gifts  in  the  ministry  to  the  reaching,  and,  we  trust,  to  the  awaken- 
ing of  many  precious,  tender  and  immortal  souls. 

During  the  forepart  of  the  year  1855  our  service  was  very  much 
in  and  about  home,  attending  to  our  domestic,  relative  and  relig- 
ious duties,  as  they  came  in  course,  spending  our  leisure  hours,  as 
is  usual  with  us,  in  reading,  writing  and  meditation.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  this  year  we  held  a  few  public  meetings  within  the  limits  of 
our  monthly  meeting,  to  very  good  satisfaction.  We  also  while  en- 
gaged in  this  service  visited  some  families  of  Friends,  to  comfort 
and  edification.  Our  health  in  the  latter  part  of  this  summer  be- 
came poor,  the  weather  Ijeing  exceedingly  warm,  but  we  were 
thankful  in  feeling  perfectly  resigned  to  the  divine  will  in  all 
things.  In  attending  the  service  of  our  Yearly  Meeting  in  the 
autumn  of  this  year,  we  were  thankful  in  believing  that  the  great 
liead  of  the  church  was  mercifully  in  the  midst  of  us,  enabling  us, 
in  the  various  departments  of  this  body,  to  move  forth  under  his 
gracious  guidance.  Our  Yearly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders 
became  deeply  concerned  for  our  preservation  on  the  sure  founda- 
tion on  every  hand  in  this  day  of  trial  and  conflict,  in  many  in- 
stances in  our  religious  society.  The  following  epistle  of  advice, 
issued  by  this  meeting,  will,  in  degree,  manifest  this  concern  and 
exercise  of  Friends: 


3li()  JOL'RXAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  1854 

''  From    our  Yearly    Meeting    of    Ministers  and    Elders,,  held    at 
White  Water,  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  the  2d  of  10th  month,  and 
i>y  adjournments,  the  4th,  8th  and   9tli  of  the  same,  1855. — To 
the  Quarterly  and  Preparative  Meetings  thei'eto  belonging: 
Dear  Friends: 

"Our  assembling  together  at  this  season,  in  the  capacity  of  a 
Yearly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders,  was  under  an  humbling 
sense  of  our  own  unworthiness  and  utter  inability  of  ourselves  to 
d(»  any  good  thing;  realizing  the  truth  of  the  words  of  our  blessed 
Lord  to  his  disciples,  "without  me  ye  can  do  nothing,"  but  through 
condescending  goodness  and  mercy  of  our  heavenly  Father,  he  was 
pleased  to  be  in  our  midst,  immediately  by  his  good  spirit,  and  to 
favor  us  with  the  help  of  his  dedicated  servants  and  handmaidens 
from  distant  parts,  who  labored  harmoniously  and  acceptably 
among  us. 

"Ministers  and  elders  were  exhorted  to  put  on  strength  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord,  to  put  on  the  whole  armor  of  God,  that  we  may 
be  able  to  withstand  in  the  evil  day,  and  having  done  all  to  stand, 
seeking  also  to  be  clothed  with  wisdom  from  above,  which  is  pure, 
peaceable,  gentle,  and  easy  to  be  entreated,  full  of  mercy  and  good 
fruits,  that  we  may  thereby  be  enabled  to  fill  the  stations  which  we 
now  occupy  to  the  honor  of  the  Holy  Head  of  the  church.  Thus 
might  we  hope  to  be  favored  with  ability,  not  only  to  take  heed  to 
ourselves,  but  to  the  flock  over  which  we  are  made  overseers,  and  to 
feed  the  flock  of  God  that  is  among  us,  taking  the  oversight  there- 
of, not  by  constraint,  but  willingly ;  not  for  tilthy  lucre,  but  of  a 
ready  mind,  neither  as  being  lords  over  (Jod's  heritage,  but  being 
ensamples  to  the  flock,  that  when  the  chief  Shepherd  shall  apjiear 
we  may  receive  a  crown  of  glory  that  fadeth  not  away, 

"Our  attention  was  turned  towards  those  who  are  young  in  the 
ministry,  desiring  that  they  may  be  very  tenderly  watched  over,  in- 
structed, and  gently  led  along  by  the  nursing  fathers  and  mothers, 
that  the  diffident  and  trembling  ones  may  be  encouraged  and  helped 
on  their  way. 

"A  lively  concern  also  prevailed  for  the  ministry  in  general,  that 
all  who  have  received  the  gift  may  minister  the  same  as  good 
stewards  of  the  nuinifold  grace  of  God,  'If  any  num  speak,  let  him 
speak  as  the  oracle  of  God;  if  any  man  minister,  let  him  do  it  as 
of  the  ability  which  God  giveth,  that  God  in  all  things  may  be 
glorified  through  Jesus  Christ,  to  whom  be  praise  and  dominion 
forever  and  ever,'  Let  all  read  the  Holy  Scriptures  diligently,  and 
be  careful  neitiier  to  misquote  nor  misapply  them.  Let  all  study 
to  show  themselves  approved  unto  (Jod;  Avorkmen  that  need  not 
be  ashamed,  rightly  dividin;^  the  wortl  of  truth.  And  above  all, 
let  no  one  shun  to  declare  all  the  counsel  of  God,  according  as  it 
may  be  rec[uired  of  them;  but  to  seek  in  humility  to  l)elieve  heart- 
ily the  whole  doctrine  of  divine  revelation,  as  recorded  in  the  Holy 


185«  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARXP:TT.  361 

Scriptures,  without  stuml)ling  or  doubting,  and  to  speuk  the  simple 
yet  powerful  truths  of  the  gospel  in  their  fulness  and  without  clip- 
ping or  evasion,  according  to  their  gifts,  and  as  the  Holy  Ghost 
may  lay  it  upon  them;  that  as  the  closing  period  draws  nigh,  they 
may  in  good  measure  be  enabled  to  adopt  the  language  of  the 
apostle:  'Wherefore  I  take  you  to  record  this  day,  that  I  am  pure 
from  tiie  blood  of  all  men,  for  I  have  not  shunned  to  declare  unto 
you  all  the  counsel  of  God.' 

'"Earnestly  have  been  our  desires  that  we  may  be  preserved  in 
tlio  unity  of  the  spirit,  in  the  bond  of  peace,  laboring  for  the  re- 
moval of  all  wrong  things;  and  that  as  a  united  baud  we  may  be  at 
our  posts,  standing  as  watchmen  on  the  walls,  ready  to  see  and 
chock  all  the  subtle  and  specious  devices  of  the  enemy  of  all  good,  the 
accuser  of  the  brethren,  that  he  may  not  be  permitted  in  this  day 
of  trial  and  division  in  some  parts  of  our  religious  society,  to  make 
an  inroad  within  our  borders,  to  the  scattering  of  the  flock.  Many 
are  the  devices  of  this  cruel  enemy,  who  desires  to  have  us,  that  he 
may  sift  us  as  wheat.  He  goes  about  not  only  as  a  roaring  lion, 
but  as  a  cunning,  subtle  serpent,  seeking  whom  he  may  devour; 
and,  dear  Friends,  may  we  be  preserved  from  all  his  baits  and 
snares,  and  this  we  doubt  not  will  be  experienced  as  we  resist  him, 
abiding  steadfast  in  the  faith,  and  keep  strictly  on  the  watch,  for 
'surely  in  vain  the  net  is  spread  in  the  sight  of  any  bird.' 

'"Let  us  shun  in  ourselves  judging  and  unfounded  jealousy,  and 
check  in  others  all  evil  surmising,  whispering  and  back-biting;  and 
'let  all  bitterness,  and  wrath,  and  anger,  and  clamour,  and  evil 
speaking,  be  put  away  from'  us,  'with  all  malice,'  and  let  us  'be 
kindly  affectioned  one  to  another.'  'forgiving  one  another,  even 
as  God,  for  Christ's  sake,  hath  forgiven'  us. 

''A  deep  and  lively  concern  was  felt  that  our  dear  children  may 
be  instructed  in  the  principles  of  the  Christian  religion,  and  we 
were  affectionately  reminded  that  it  is  not  enough  to  train  them  up 
iruplainness  of  speech,  deportment  and  apparel,  however  excellent 
this  is,  and  not  to  be  neglected,  but  that  their  tender  and  suscepti- 
ble minds  be  early  taught  the  necessity  of  a  change  of  heart;  that 
without  holiness  no  one  can  see  the  Lord  ;  that  except  we  be  born 
again,  we  cannot  enter  into  tlie  kingdom  of  heaven;  that  it  is  by' 
grace  we  are  to  be  saved  through  faith,  and  that  not  of  ourselves, 
it  is  the  gift  of  God;  and  that  the  first  step  in  the  great  work  of 
sanctification  is,  'repentance  toward  God,  and  faith  toward  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.' 

"Taken  from  the  minutes  of  the  meeting  aforesaid. 

"Joseph  Doan,  Clerk." 

In  the  latter  part  of  this  year  we  visited,  in  Christian  love,  with 
the  approbation  of  Friends,  West  Branch  Quarterly  Meeting  and  the 
meetings  constituting  it,  and  also  held  in  those  parts  a  considerable 
nu)nber  of  meetings  for  those  not  in  membership  with  us,  and  some 


362  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARXETT.  185S 

of  them  were  largely  attended  by  peojDle  of  different  religious  i)er- 
suasions.  This  visit,  we  believe,  will  long  be  remembered  by  many 
for  good,  both  among  Friends  and  others,  the  Good  Spirit  being 
with  us,  enabling  us  to  move  forth  in  demonstration  of  the  spirit, 
and  with  power,  granting  us  strength,  wisdom  and  utterance,  to 
the  glory  and  honor  of  him  who  inhabits  the  praises  of  Israel. 

In  the  opening  of  the  year  1856  the  weather  was  exceedingly  in- 
clement and  cold,  and  continued  so  to  be  through  the  winter,  the 
ground  being  covered  with  snow  about  a  foot  deep,  so  that  we  were 
thankful  in  being  permitted  through  divine  mercy  to  enjoy  the  com- 
forts of  our  little  home  through  the  most  part  of  this  severe  winter, 
being  the  coldest  weather  that  we  ever  saw  in  tliis  countr3^  We, 
however,  in  the  latter  part  thereof,  proceeded,  with  the  concurrence 
of  Friends,  in  the  prosecution  of  a  religious  visit  to  the  meetings 
of  Friends  generally  constituting  Fairfield  and  Center  Quarterly 
Meetings;  and  through  the  course  of  the  following  spring  we  were 
enabled,  through  divine  mercy,  to  pass  through  this  visit  to  the 
peace  of  our  own  minds,  and  we  thought  to  the  satisfaction  and 
comfort  of  those  whom  we  visited.  While  engaged  in  this  visit 
we  held  many  public  meetings  for  those  who  are  not  in  membership 
with  us,  and  some  of  them  were  largely  attended  by  tender-hearted 
people,  who  were  open  to  receive  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it.  We 
also  while  out  on  this  mission  occasionally  visited,  rather  in  a  social 
way,  a  number  of  families  among  Friends  and  others,  to  mutual 
satisfaction  and  edification.  This  kind  of  visiting  is  very  profit- 
able when  the  conversation  of  the  company  is  mutually  guarded 
and  of  a  religious  nature,  but  when  the  spirit  of  tale-bearing  and 
detraction  on  such  occasions  is  indulged  in,  it  is  very  injurious,  and 
opens  the  way  for  sowing  and  cultivating  the  seed  of  discord  and 
disunity  among  the  brethren  and  sisters  of  the  same  household  in 
the  mititant  church. 

In  the  autumn  of  this  year.  185G,  with  the  unity  of  Friends,  we 
left  home  with  feelings  of  deep  humility,  with  a  i)rospect  of  visit- 
ing Westfield  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends,  and  the  meetings 
constituting  it.  We  also  were  engaged  in  the  discharge  of  this 
dedication,  to  hold  a  number  of  meetings  for  divine  worship  among 
those  not  in  religious  profession  with  us,  and  in  the  prosecution  of 
this  visit  we  Avere  very  thankful  in  believing  that  he  who  inhabits 
eternity  was  with  us,  and  mercifully  granted  us  from  day  to  day 
strength,  wisdom  and  utterance,  to  the  glory  of  his  name;  and  also 
tending  a  little  to  advance  his  cause  of  trutli  and  righteousness  in 
the  earth.  While  engaged  in  this  service  Friends  and  others  were 
very  kind  to  us,  manifesting  that  sym})athy  towards  us  which  lives 
in  the  unity  of  the  spirit,  in  the  bond  of  peace. 

After  passing  through  this  visit  to  mutual  satisfaction,  we  at- 
tended the  service  of  our  Yearly  Meeting,  which  was  large  and 
mucli  owned  by  the  Good  Shepherd  of  Israel,  who  mercifully  man- 


1857  JOUKNTAL   OF   THOMAS    AKN^ETT.  HG.? 

ifested  his  presence  in  our  midst,  and  enabled  us  to  Tnanago  the 
affairs  of  the  church,  in  a  good  degi^ee,  in  the  unity  of  the  spirit, 
in  the  bond  of  peace.  The  public  general  Yearly  Meeting  for 
divine  worship  was  very  large,  being  held  on  the  first  day  of  the 
week.  It  was  thought  that  upwards  of  ten  thousand  people  came 
together  on  this  occasion,  for  the  accommodation  of  wliom  we  held 
meetings  both  within  and  without  the  doors  of  the  meeting-house, 
which  were  seasons  of  much  favor,  and  the  pouring  forth  of  gospel 
ministry  so  that  many  were  benefited  and  edified  on  this  interesting- 
occasion. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  summer  of  this  year,  1857,  with  the 
unity  of  Friends,  after  passing  through  many  exercises  and  repeated 
baptisms  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  my  dear  wife  and  myself  left  home, 
with  feelings  of  deep  humility  and  prayer  to  the  Author  of  all  our 
sure  mercies,  with  a  jirospect  of  visiting,  in  the  love  of  the  gospel, 
as  way  should  open,  Friends  and  others  within  tlie  limits  of  New 
Garden,  White  Water  and  Spiceland  Quarterly  Meetings  of  Friends. 

In  the  prosecution  of  this  concern  the  Lord  was  mercifully  with 
us,  granting  us  strength,  wisdom  and  utterance  from  day  to  day 
and  from  place  to  place,  to  the  glory  and  honor  of  his  holy  name; 
and  we  believe,  generally,  to  the  benefit  and  edification  of  those 
whom  we  visited.  AVhile  engaged  in  this  work  we  visited  the  meet- 
ings constituting  those  quarters,  and  held  a  considerable  number  of 
meetings  for  divine  worship  among  those  not  of  our  society,  and 
often  had  good  religious  service  in  the  families  of  Friends  where 
our  lot  was  cast.  While  under  this  engagement.  Friends  and  others 
were  very  kind  to  us,  manifesting  unity  and  sympathy  for  and  with 
us.  We  were  enabled  to  pass  through  this  dedication  to  the  peace 
of  our  own  minds  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  Friends  and  others,  in 
time  to  attend  the  service  of  our  Yearly  Meeting  in  the  autumn  of 
this  year,  which  meeting  was  very  large  and  graciously  owned  by 
him  who  presides  in  and  governs  his  own  church. 

We  had  acceptably  with  us  several  Friends  engaged  in  the  work 
of  the  ministry  from  other  Yearly  Meetings,  who  had  good  religious 
service  among  us.  It  was  thought  that  while  this  meeting  was  in 
session  that  about  fifteen  thousand  people  assembled  to  attend  the 
public  meetings  which  we  held  for  divine  worship,  both  within  and 
without  the  meeting-house  doors,  and  this  large  companyappeared 
to  conduct  themselves  with  sobriety  on  this  deeply  interesting  oc- 
casion.    ■ 

W^hen  this  Yearly  Meeting  closed  we  returned  home  with  peace- 
ful and  thankful  hearts  to  him  "of  whom  the  whole  family  in 
heaven  and  earth  is  named." 

I  have  devoted  much  of  my  time  in  my  pilgrimage  life  to  religious 
meditation,  and  being  now  thus  engaged,  it  appears  to  me  that  man 
may  be  considered  as  living  in  two  worlds,  the  external  and  the  in- 
ternal— the  world  of  outward  circumstances  and  active  duties,  and 


364  JOUENAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  1857 

the  world  of  thought,  emotion  and  purpose.  The  temperaments  or 
habits  of  some  incite  in  them  a  calm,  meditative  spirit.  Life,  in 
many  instances,  is  made  up  of  dreams,  of  ideal  pleasures,  of  finely 
•wrought  plans,  seldom  matured  or  carried  into  execution.  Others 
live  altogether  in  the  outward  world  ;  they  are  active,  industrious, 
enterprising.  The  door  of  the  heart  is  seldom  opened  ;  an  hour  is 
seldom  rescued  from  the  intense  activities  of  life  and  devoted  to 
corhmunion  with  one's  own  spirit  or  with  the  Deity.  The  Bible 
and  religious  books  may  be  read,  religious  communications  may  be 
listened  to,  meetings  may  be  punctually  attended,  and  yet  the  re- 
ligion lie  upon  the  surface  and  be  expended  in  the  performance  of 
external  duties. 

That  this  is  the  tendency  in  the  churches  at  the  j)resent  day  is 
obvious  to  the  casual  observer.  The  great  moral  questions  which 
are  exciting  })ublic  attention,  the  Christian  enterprises  that  relate 
to  the  extension  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom,  in  this  and  other 
lands,  and  the  fields  for  usefulness  everywhere  opening  around  us 
tend  to  draw  the  zeal  and  energies  of  Christians  into  these  channels. 
Nor  would  we  abate,  in  any  degree,  this  zeal  or  effort.  We  would 
rather  see  them  increase  ;  but  we  would  not  lose  sight  of  the  fact 
that  no  Christian  can  neglect  his  secret  duties,  the  care  of  his  own 
soul,  without  serious  detriment  to  his  spiritual  interest.  No 
amount  of  external  labor  will  compensate  for  a  deficiency  in  this 
resj)ect.  To  know  God,  to  have  the  affections  drawn  out  toward 
the  Saviour,  to  gain  an  experimental  knowledge  of  the  doctrines  of 
the  Christian  faith,  we  must  obey  the  exhortation  made  by  the 
Apostle  Paul  to  Tmiothy,  ''' Meditate  upon  these  things."  Unless 
they  become  the  subject  of  distinct  and  protracted  thought,  unless 
they  are  studied  with  somewhat  of  the  feeling  that  inspires  the  phi- 
losopher or  the  man  of  science  in  their  investigations,  unless  they 
are  seized  under  a  deep  sense  of  personal  interest  and  responsibility, 
there  can  be  little  spiritual  growth. 

The  apostles  and  early  disciples,  in  the  midst  of  the  most  arduous 
labors  and  exciting  scenes,  felt  the  importance  of  an  inward  relig- 
ious culture.  Neither  imminent  dangers  nor  the  demands  for  an 
untiring  vigilance  to  protect  life,  nor  storms  of  persecution  could 
excuse  them  for  the  neglect  of  this  duty.  They  were  conscious 
that  their  spiritual  existence,  hopes,  happiness  and  usefulness  de- 
pended upon  it.  And  the  history  of  every  distinguished  Christian 
from  that  day  to  the  })resent,  of  every  devoted  servant  in  Christ's 
army,  of  every  faithful  advocate  for  the  truth  in  times  of  peril  or 
apostacy,  reveals  the  efficacy  and  the  absolute  necessity  of  this  in- 
ward culture. 

Let  the  Church  at  the  present  day  add  to  its  external  resources 
the  forces  to  be  gathered  from  frequent  and  deep  meditation  upon 
spiritual  themes  and  from  the  kindred  duties  of  secret  prayer,  self- 
examination  and  watchfulness,  to  which  this  naturally  leads,  and 


1857  JOUKNAL   OF   THOMAS   ARN"ETT.  365 

we  slionld  speedily  see  the  results  in  an  augmented  spirituality  and 
religious  joy  in  the  multiplication  of  revivals  and  the  rapid  and  per- 
manent extension  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom.  Upon  such  a  church, 
with  every  doctrine  of  Christianity  a  living  power  in  the  soul,  with 
an  individual  consciousness  of  the  divine  presence  and  an  indi- 
vidual experience  of  the  Saviour's  love,  the  influences  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  would  be  poured  out.  God  could  use  such  a  church  for  the 
accomplishment  of  his  divine  purpose.  Each  heart  would  he  a 
temple  consecrated  to  his  service.  Each  life  would  be  a  force  filled 
with  divine  power  and  sending  forth  streams  that  would  make  glad 
the  city  of  our  God. 

A  concern  having  impressed  my  mind  for  some  time  past,  to- 
gether with  a  similar  concern  of  my  dear  wife,  to  i^ay  a  religious 
visit,  as  way  should  open,  to  Friends  and  others  withing  the  limits 
of  the  Northern  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends.  We,  with  the  sym- 
])athy  and  unity  of  our  dear  friends,  set  out  on  this  prospect  with 
feelings  of  deep  humility  and  prayer  to  God,  after  attending  the 
service  of  our  Monthly  Meeting  held  on  the  25th  of  the  8th  month, 
1858,  and  proceeded  immediately  to  the  State  of  Indiana,  and  in 
the  prosecution  of  this  concern  we  attended  the  service  of  the 
Northern  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends,  and  visited  in  the  love  of 
the  gospel  of  peace  and  salvation  most  of  the  meetings  constituting 
it,  and  we  also  visited,  in  holding  public  meetings  for  divine  wor- 
ship, most  of  the  towns  and  villages  in  those  parts,  and  these  meet- 
ings were  generally  largely  attended  by  Christians  of  the  various  re- 
ligious denominations  in  those  parts  and  by  many  others  who  make 
no  profession  of  the  Christian  name.  In  these  meetings  we  were 
mercifully  enabled  to  labor  in  the  might  of  the  power  of  the  Lord, 
to  the  edification  of  the  true,  sincere  believers  in  the  name  of  the 
blessed  Saviour,  and  to  point  out  to  sinners  the  way  of  repentance 
toward  God  and  faith  toward  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  so 
that  all  these  meetings  ended  to  the  glory  of  God. 

This  visit,  upon  the  whole,  was  a  season  of  eminent  favor.  The 
great  Head  of  the  Church,  throngh  the  spirit,  was  mercifully  with 
us,  granting  us  from  day  to  day  a  fresh  supj^ly  of  his  grace,  wisdom, 
strength  and  utterance  to  the  glory  of  his  name  and  to  the  peace 
and  comfort  of  our  own  minds.     Blessed  forever  be  his  name  ! 

We  were  enabled  through  divine  mercy  to  pass  through  this  visit, 
to  the  satisfaction  of  friends  and  others,  in  time  to  attend  the  serv- 
ices of  our  large,  highly  favored  and  deeply  interesting  Yearly 
Meeting,  which  was  a  season  long  to  be  remembered  for  good  by 
many  dear  friends  and  others  ;  for  amidst  the  seasons  set  apart  for 
public  divine  worship  several  thousand  jjeople  met  with  us  from 
various  parts  of  the  surrounding  coimtry  wdio  were  not  members  of 
our  society,  and  all  of  this  description  generally  behaved  themselves 
in  a  manner  becoming  the  solemnity  of  the  occasion,  to  whom,  as 
well  as  to  friends,  the  glad  tidings  of  the  gospel  of  peace  and  salva- 


366  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  1857 

tion  was  preached  in  the  demonstratiou  of  the  spirit  and  with 
power,  for  we  had  acceptably  with  iis  many  ministers  of  the  gospel 
from  various  parts  of  our  society  who  were  enabled  to  labor  in  the 
truth  to  the  edification  of  the  Church  and  to  the  honor  and  glory 
of  the  cause  of  ]ieace  and  rightousness  in  the  earth.  Praised  for- 
ever be  the  Lord ! 

Much  important  business  was  transacted  in  this  Yearly  Meeting 
in  the  unity  of  the  spirit  in  the  bond  of  peace,  so  that  Friends  were 
refreshed  and  encouraged  in  coming  together  on  this  solemn,  im- 
pressive and  very  weighty  occasion. 

We  passed  through  the  service  of  this  Yearly  Meeting  with  peace- 
ful and  thankful  hearts,  and  were  favored  after  the  close  thereof  to 
return  home  with  peace  and  comfort  of  mind.     Praised  be  the  Lord. 

I  have  often,  through  the  coarse  of  my  labors  in  the  gospel,  in 
opening  and  illustrating  the  great  doctrine  of  Christian  redemption 
according  to  the  scriptures,  before  my  fellow  beings,  very  much  ad- 
mired both  the  wisdom  and  power  of  God  in  the  spread  of  the  bless- 
ings of  Christianity  to  the  nations  of  the  earth. 

Christianity  is  a  social  religion  ;  its  virtues  are  of  a  character  at 
once  binding  and  diffuse,  and  amidst  all  the  fruits  of  the  spirit, 
there  is  none  so  delightful  and  none  so  distinguishing  as  that  holy 
love,  of  which  God  in  Christ  is  the  first  object,  and  all  mankind 
the  next,  and  which  more  especuilly  unites  in  the  bonds  of  the  fel- 
lowship of  the  gospel  those  persons,  of  whatever  name  or  profes- 
sion, who  believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  are  "baptized  by  one  spirit 
into  one  body." 

Theirs  is  the  "  unity  of  the  spirit  in  the  bond  of  j)eace  ;"  "  the 
communion  of  the  Holy  Ghost."  And  this  communion  extends 
itself  from  the  church  militant  to  the  church  triumphant.  It 
already  brings  heaven  and  earth  together  ;  and  its  full  perfection 
will  be  known  in  that  glorious  day  when  the  number  of  God^s  elect 
shall  be  completed  ;  when  all  distinctions  of  peculiar  opinion  shall 
be  forever  lost  amongst  them,  and  when  the  universal  society  of 
saints  and  angels  shall  unite  in  rendering  unto  the  glorious  and 
everlasting  God  the  same  eternal  tribute  of  obedience,  thanksgiv- 
ing, glory,  honor,  adoration  and  praise. 

Christianity  brings  the  favor  of  God  very  near  to  us.  He  meets 
the  perception  of  his  reconciled  children  in  every  flower  that 
blossoms,  in  every  star  that  shines  upon  them,  and  in  every  cloud 
that  passes  over  their  heads.  They  find  him  in  daily  and  hourly 
contact  with  themselves,  in  his  providential  mercies  and,  in  his  pa- 
ternal care. 

To  retire  occasionally  during  the  day,  and  especially  at  the  be- 
ginning and  end  of  it,  from  worldly  considerations,  for  the  purpose 
of  self-examination  and  prayer,  is  a  practice  which  Christianity 
very  much  inculcates,  and  which  affords  a  very  important  qualifica- 
tion for  the  discharge  of  every  other  duty. 


isr.7  JOUKNAL    OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  367 

Christianity  procures  for  all  mankind  the  offer  of  a  pure  and  sub- 
stantial happiness.  The  true  Christian  is  happy  far  above  all  other 
persons,  for  various  reasons  :  Because,  though  his  sins  may  have 
been  many,  he  is  reconciled  to  the  Father,  through  the  mediation  of 
the  Son,  Jesus  Christ;  because,  notwithstanding  his  infirmity,  he  is 
enabled  to  walk  in  the  way  of  righteousness  through  the  leading 
and  teaching  of  the  Holy  Spirit  ;  because  a  sense  of  the  divine  love 
and  approbiition  dwells  in  his  heart ;  because  he  is  taught  to  regard 
every  tribulation  as  a  moral  discipline  directed  to  greater  good;  and 
because  he  is  animated  through  faith  by  the  blessed  hope  of  a  future 
joy  perfectly  replete  in  its  nature,  and  eternal  in  its  duration. 

The  principles  which  are  common  to  all  sound  and  devotional 
Christians,  are  of  infinite  strength  and  efficacy  ;  amply  sufficient  to 
unite  in  holy  fellowship  multitudes  who  entertain  very  different 
opinions  on  subordinate  questions  of  I'eligion.  In  this  union,  under 
the  providence  and  grace  of  God  lies  the  strength  very  much  of  the 
Christian  cause.  May  it  never  be  severed  ;  and  may  the  happy  and 
glorious  day  roll  on,  under  the  economy  of  the  everlasting  gospel, 
consistent  with  the  divine  will,  when  pure  and  primitive  Christian- 
ity shall  abound  in  the  world,  and  reign  triumphant  in  the  hearts 
of  all  the  children  of  men. 

Christianity  purifies  and  prepares  us  for  the  happines  of  heaven. 
We  can  never  take  possession  of  the  eternal  inheritance  which  Christ 
has  purchased  for  us  with  his  blood,  unless  we  be  restored,  under 
divine  grace,  to  that  likeness  of  God,  in  which  our  first  parents 
were  created;  for  without  holiness ''no  man  shall  see  the  Lord," 
and  none  can  enter  into  that  blessed  and  happy  world  but  those 
whose  names  are  writtan  in  the  "  Lamb's  book  of  life." 

What  tongue  can  tell,  what  heart  conceive  the  joy  which  is  reserved 
in  heaven  for  those  who  have  here  by  the  work  of  divine  grace,  been 
assimilated  to  Jesus  Christ!  ''Beloved,  now  are  we  the  sons  of 
God,  and  it  doth  not  yet  appear  what  we  shall  be  ;  but  we  know 
that  when  he  shall  appear,  we  shall  be  like  him,  for  we  shall  see 
him  as  he  is. "  If  even  in  this  Avorld  we  have  been  taught  to  love  God 
because  of  his  moral  perfections,  and  if  our  love  for  him  has  ever 
been  found  to  increase,  as  we  have  been  enabled  to  advance  in 
holiness,  what  will  be  the  increase  and  measure  of  our  love  I  What, 
therefore,  the  fullness  of  our  happiness  when  the  moral  beauty  of  the 
Deity  shall  be  revealed  to  us  in  all  its  radiance,  while  our  own  ca- 
pacity for  appreciating  it  is  unutterably  enlarged  !  Forever  likened 
to  their  Saviour,  the  risen  and  glorified  children  of  the  Lord  will 
experience  in  heaven  the  perfect  blending  of  love  and  holiness;  and 
both  these  will  be  forever  associated  with  unclouded  joy. 

It  appears  to  me,  according  to  the  Scriptures,  that  both  immedi- 
ately after  death,  and  when  the  glory  of  the  saints  shall  be  consum- 
mated by  the  resurrection,  it  will  be  the  happiness  of  the  Lord's 
children  to  be  in  the  immediate  presence  of  the  blessed  Saviour,  in 


368  JOURXAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  1857 

intiinate  and  holy  communion  with  him  ;  and  also  in  sweet  union 
with  the  just,  the  righteous,  and  the  good  of  every  generation,  to- 
gether with  all  the  angelic  beings,  all  employed  in  adoring  the  great 
God  and  the  Saviour  to  all  eternity. 

A  concern  having  impressed  my  mind  for  some  time  past  to  pay  a 
religious  visit,  as  far  as  way  may  open  to  the  meetings  constituting 
Western  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends,  and  to  appoint  some  meetings 
in  those  parts  for  those  who  are  not  in  membership  with  us,  also  to 
appoint  a  few  meetings  on  the  way  going  and  returning,  and  my 
dear  wife  also  being  impressed  with  a  similar  concern,  we  therefore 
seasonably  spread  this  concern  before  Friends  of  our  Monthly  and 
Quarterly  Meetings,  and  receiving  the  entire  sympathy  and  unity  of 
friends,  they  therefore  granted  us  the  needful  certificates  for  the 
performance  of  this  dedication.  We,  on  the  29th  day  of  the  Sev- 
enth month,  1859,  with  feelings  of  deep  humility,  set  out  in  the 
prosecution  of  this  weighty  concern,  and  went  to  the  house  of  our 
dear  friend,  Thomas  Miller,  in  wdiose  company,  with  his  carriage 
and  horses,  on  the  next  day  traveled  to  White  Water,  in  Indiana  ; 
and  on  the  21st,  being  the  First  day  of  the  week,  we  attended  the 
meeting  of  Friends  there,  and  held,  in  the  afternoon,  one  for  the 
youth  and  others.  These  meetings  w^ere  large,  and  much  ownetl 
by  the  great  and  merciful  head  of  the  church. 

Eighth  month  1st.  We  this  day  paid  a  religious  visit  to  our 
Yearly  Meeting  boarding-school,  in  holding  a  meeting  for  divine 
worship  for  the  teachers,  students  and  other  who  were  concerned 
in  the  institution.  This  visit  was  of  a  very  interesting  character. 
The  truth  was  with  us,  and  enabled  us  to  deliver  suitable  instruc- 
tion and  advice  to  good  satisfaction.  In  the  performance  of  this 
duty  we  had  cause  to  believe  that  this  institution,  if  properly  con- 
ducted, will  be  a  garden  which  the  Lord  wull  bless,  to  the  present 
and  future  generations  of  many  in  our  religious  society. 

The  2d.  We  this  day  traveled  to  the  neigliborhood  of  Bethel, 
and  on  the  next  day  we  were  at  Friend's  meeting  there,  as  it  came 
in  course,  and  found  much  good  service  in  the  blessed  truth. 

After  this  we  set  out  for  Westfield  wnth  a  prospect  of  attending 
the  service  of  Union  Quarterly  Meeting  to  be  held  there,  where  we 
arrived  in  time  to  attend  this  meeting,  wdiich  commenced  on  the 
5th  and  continued  through  this  and  the  two  following  days,  which 
was  a  season  long  to  be  remembered.  The  meeting  was  large  and 
eminently  owned  by  the  great  head  of  the  church. 

The  Sth.  We  this  morning  held  a  public  meeting  at  East  Branch 
for  Friends  and  others,  and  in  the  evening  we  held  one  at  Nobles- 
ville  in  the  court  house.  Both  these  meetings  w^ere  well  attended, 
and  the  Good  Spirit  being  with  us,  we  were  thereby  enabled  to  labor 
in  the  Gospel  to  the  ]icace  of  our  own  minds,  and  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  the  people.     Blessed  forever,  be  the  everlasting  God! 

After  this  we  proceeded  in  our  visit,  and  held  meetings  through 


1859  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKNETT.  3C9 

the  course  of  this  week  as  follows:  On  the  9th  at  Hinkles  Creek 
in  the  forenoon,  and  one  in  the  afternoon  at  West  Grove  ;  on  the 
10th  at  Grreenwood  in  the  forenoon,  and  one  at  Oakridge  in  the 
afternoon  ;  on  the  11th  at  Eagle  Creek  in  the  forenoon,  and  one  at 
Pleasantview  in  the  afternoon  ;  on  the  13th  at  Poplar  Ridge,  and 
on  the  13tli  at  Richland.  All  these  meetings  were  well  attended 
by  Friends  and  others,  and  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  being  mercifully 
with  us,  we  were  therefore  enabled  to  preach  the  Gospel  in  tiie 
demonstration  of  the  spirit  and  with  power. 

The  14th,  being  First  day.  We  spent  this  day  in  the  city  of  Indian- 
apolis, and  attended  Friends'  meeting  in  the  morning,  and  held  in 
the  afternoon  a  large  meeting  in  Robert's  Chajiel,  a  Metliodist  meet- 
ing house.  Both  these  meetings  were  highly  favored,  opportunities 
wherein  truth  reigned  over  all,  and  on  the  next  day  we  held  a 
meeting  in  the  morning  at  East  Fork,  and  .one  in  the  afternoon  at 
Centre.  These  meetings  were  well  attended  by  Friends  and  others, 
and  much  fiTvored  with  the  doctrine  of  life  and  salvation. 

The  IGth.  We  this  day  held  two  large  public  meetings  for 
Friends  and  others,  the  first  at  Bush  Grove  in  the  morning,  and  the 
other  at  Easton  in  the  afternoon.  The  power  of  truth  was  over  all 
in  these  meetings,  under  the  influence  of  which  many  were  edified 
and  comforted ;  and  on  the  next  day  we  attended  Friends'  meeting 
at  Plainfield,  as  it  came  in  course,  and  had  a  very  pleasant  op})or- 
tnnity  with  Friends.     Praised  be  the  Lord. 

The  18th.  We  this  day  attended  Fairfield  Monthly  Meeting, 
where  we  met  a  large  and  interesting  company  of  Friends,  among 
whom  we  found  much  good  service  in  the  ministry  of  the  everlast- 
ing gospel. 

The  19th.  This  day  commenced  the  service  of  the  Quarterly 
Meeting  of  White  Lick,  which  closed  on  the  21st  (being First  day,) 
with  a  meeting  for  the  youth  in  the  afternoon  of  that  day.  Many 
Friends  and  others  were  in  attendance,  so  that  it  was  a  large  meet- 
ing ;ind  a  deeply  interesting  season,  wherein  the  gospel  was 
preached  to  the  edification  and  comfort  of  many.  After  this  meet- 
ing we  alfectionately  parted  with  our  dear  friend  Thomas  Miller,  he 
feeling  his  mind  now  turned  homeward.  While  he  was  with  us  we 
traveled  together  in  the  unity  of  the  spirit  in  the  bond  of  peace. 

In  the  further  prosecution  of  our  visit,  we  held  meetings  through 
the  course  of  this  week  as  follows  :  on  the  23d  at  Sugar  Grove  ;  on 
the  23d  at  North  Branch  in  the  forenoon,  and  one  at  Bethel  in  tlie 
afternoon;  on  the  24th  at  Highland  ;  on  the  25th  at  West  Union 
in  the  forenoon,  and  one  in  the  afternoon  at  West  Grove ;  on  the 
2Gth  at  West  Branch,  and  on  the  27th  at  Spring  meeting.  All 
these  meetings  were  well  attended  by  Fi  lends  and  others,  wherein 
the  truth  reigned  over  all,  our  minds  being  opened  in  the  illustra- 
tion   of   the   Christian  religion    to  our  admiration,    many    minds 


370  JOUKXAL   OF   THOMAS    AKNETT.  1850 

being  humbled  under  the  mighty  power  of  God,  and  appeared  to 
receive  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it. 

The  28th,  being  First  day,  Ave  this  morning  held  a  public  meeting 
at  Mill  Creek  lor  Friends  and  others,  and  in  the  afternoon  we 
met  a  large  congregation  of  people  at  Danville,  in  the  Baptist 
meeting  house.  In  both  these  meetings  the  Lord  was  with  us  and 
enabled  us  to  preach  the  gospel  in  the  demonstration  of  the  spirit, 
and  with  power.     Praised  forever  be  his  name. 

The  29th.  We  this  day  traveled  upward  of  forty  miles,  to  the 
neighborhood  of  Bloomfield,  and  the  next  day  we  spent  pleasantly 
in  visiting  some  families  of  Friends  in  a  social  and  religious  way  to 
satisfaction. 

The  o] St.  We  this  day  held  a  good  open  public  meeting  for 
Friends  and  others,  at  Eocky  Eun.  The  meeting  was  largely  at- 
tended and  much  owned  by  the  great  head  of  the  church,  who, 
through  the  spirit  manifested  himself  in  our  midst,  and 
granted  us  wisdom,  strength  and  utterance  to  the  glory  of  his 
name,  and  to  the  benefit  of  the  people.  Praised  be  his  worthy 
name  forever! 

Ninth  month  1st.  We  this  day  held  a  good  public  meeting 
for  Fj-iends  and  others,  at  Eush  Creek.  The  m.eeting  was  large, 
and  many  Avere  tendered  under  the  power  of  the  glorious  and  ever- 
.  lasting  gospel. 

The  2d.  We  this  day  held  a  good  open  meeting  at  Annapolis,  in 
the  Methodist  meeting  house,  where  Ave  were  much  favored  with 
the  word  of  life  and  sah^ation  ;  and  on  the  next  day  Ave  held  a 
meeting  for  Friends  and  others  at  Po]»lar  Grove,  Avhich,  through 
divine  mercy  Avas  made  a  good  season.     Praised  be  the  Lord  I 

The  4th,  being  Frst  day,  and  a  time  of  much  favor  Avith  us,  we 
this  morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at  Bloomfield,  and 
in  the  afternoon  Ave  held  a  meeting  for  divine  vvorshij^  at  Eockville 
in  the  Methodist  meeting  house.  Both  these  meetings  were  very 
large,  Avherein  truth  reigned  over  all  to  the  glory  and  honor  of  the 
great  head  of  the  church. 

The  5th.  We  on  this  and  the  next  day  traveled  to  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Thorntown  ;  and  these  tAvo  days  Avere  a  season  of  deep  and 
jiroving  l)aptism  to  us  ;  Ave  Avere  brought  down  in  judgment  before 
God  ;  Ave  mourned  in  spirit,  and  in  prayer  and  supplication  to  him 
Ave  called  for  lielp,  knoAving  that  Avithout  him  Ave  should  utterly 
fall  ;  and  he  mercifully  heard  our  cry  and  strengthened  us  in  his 
grace  and  in  the  power  of  his  might.  Praised  forever  be  His  great 
name  ! 

The  7th.  We  this  morning  held  a  meeting  for  Friends  and 
others  at  Sugarplain,  and  in  the  evening  Ave  held  a  similar  one  at 
ThorntoAvn,  in  the  Methodist  meeting-house.  Both  these  meetings 
Avere  well  attended,  and  the  people  therein  Avere  quiet  and  still, 
among  whom  the  life  of  the  gospel  was  raised  in  a  good  degree  into 


1869  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  371 

dominion,  so  that  way  opened  for  us  to  labor  in  tlie  truth,  to  the 
comfort  and  praise  of  our  minds  and  to  the  edification  of  those  who 
were  in  attendance  ;  and  on  the  next  day  we  attended  Friends' 
Meeting  at  Walnut  Grove,  which,  through  divine  mercy,  was  made 
a  refreshing  season. 

The  9th.  We  this  day  traveled  upward  of  thirty  miles  to  Honey 
Creek,  where,  on  the  next  day,  we  attended  the  Monthly  Meeting  of 
Friends,  which  was  small  in  consequence  of  the  great  rain  which 
fell  in  the  morning  thereof.  We  were  favored  in  this  meeting  with 
the  testimony  of  truth  ;  but  Friends  appeared  to  be  so  lukewarm, 
that  we  thought  our  labor  of  love  had  not  much  place  with  them. 

The  11th.  Being  First-day,  we  again  attended  Friends'  Meeting 
at  Honey  Creek,  and  notice  being  given  of  our  attendance,  it  was  a 
large  meeting,  and  way  opened  for  us  to  preach  the  gospel  of  life 
and  salvation  to  good  satisfaction  ;  and  on  the  next  day  we  returned 
to  the  neighborhood  of  Thorntown  with  peace  and  consolation  of 
spirit. 

The  13th.  We  this  day  held  a  good  open  meeting  at  Centre  for 
Friends  and  others,  where  the  searching  powers  of  truth  went  forth 
to  the  humility  and  searching  of  many  minds.  Praised  forever  be 
the  everlasting  God  ! 

The  14th.  We  this  morning  attended  Friends'  Meeting  at 
Gi'avelly  Eun,  where  we  met  a  number  of  interesting  and  well-in- 
clined Friends,  among  whom  we  found  pretty  good  service  in  the 
testimony  of  the  everlasting  truth.  In  the  evening  we  held  a  large 
and  deeply  interesting  meeting  at  Crawford sville,  in  the  Methodist 
moeting-house,  where  we  met  people  of  various  classes  and  mem- 
bei's  of  different  denominations,  among  whom  the  doctrine  of 
Christian  redemption  was  opened  and  illustrated  to  edification  and 
admiration.     Blessed  be  the  Lord  ! 

The  15th.  We  this  day  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at 
Sugar  River,  where  we  met  a  precious  little  flock  of  Friends,  among 
whom  we  found  some  good  service,  to  mutual  edification,  comfort 
and  strength. 

The  16th.  We  this  day  traveled  to  Plainfield,  where,  on  the  next 
day,  we  attended  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  Ministers  and  Elders  of 
Western  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends,  where  we  met  with  a  number 
of  ministers,  engaged  in  a  similar  concern  with  us,  from  various 
parts  of  our  religious  society,  with  whom  we  were  much  united  in 
the  fellowship  of  the  glorious  and  everlasting  gospel. 

The  18th.  Being  First-day,  and  the  time  of  the  public  Yearly 
Meeting  for  divine  worship,  on  which  occasions  meetings  were  held 
in  the  morning  and  also  in  the  afternoon,  both  in  the  meeting- 
house and  also  out  of  doors,  their  being  several  thousand  people  in 
attendance.  We  attended  the  service  of  divine  worship  in  the 
meeting-house  ;  and  in  the  morning  meeting  I  was  very  impres- 
sively called  upon  ^;o  deliver  a  weighty  and  powerful  doctrinal  testi- 


372  JOUJtNAL    OF    THOMAS    ARNETT.  185» 

mony,  iu  which  I  was  engaged  for  about  the  space  of  one  hour, 
there  being  about  three  thousand  people  in  the  meeting-house, 
among  whom  much  Christian  solemnity  prevailed,  and  the  life  of 
truth  was  raised  over  all,  so  that  the  righteous  were  much  encour- 
aged in  the  way  of  life  and  salvation,  and  sinners  were  called  upon 
to  return,  repent  and  live  forever.  Blessed  forever  be  the  glorious 
and  everlasting  God  I 

The  19th.  This  morning  the  Yearly  Meeting  for  discipline  wa.s 
opened,  which  continued  its  session  by  adjournments  till  the  23d, 
inclusive.  This  Yearly  Meeting,  which  branched  out  of  Indiana 
Yearly  Meeting,  in  the  order  of  our  society,  in  the  unity  of  the 
.spirit,  in  the  bond  of  peace,  was  opened  and  established  at  this 
place  one  year  ago  ;  and  in  our  attendance  of  it  this  year  we  met 
with  a  very  interesting  flock,  there  being  upward  of  three  thousand 
Friends  m  attendance,  among  whom  wo  found  much  good  service 
for  the  Lord. 

The  24th.  We  this  day  traveled  to  Greencastle,  and  the  next 
day  being  First-day,  and  a  time  long  to  be  remembered  for  good  by 
many  in  tliis  interesting  place.  In  the  morning  we  held  a  good, 
large  ahd  interesting  meeting  iu  the  Presbyterian  chapel,  in  which 
the  Lord  was  Avith  us  and  granted  us  wisdom,  strength  and  utti'r- 
ance,  to  the  glory  of  his  name  and  to  the  edification  and  comfort  of 
tlie  people.  In  the  afternoon,  at  3  o'clock,  we  held  a  meeting  in 
the  college  chapel  room  of  Asbury  University,  where  we  mot  up- 
ward of  a  thousand  people,  including  the  professors  and  students  of 
the  institution,  together  with  the  ministers  of  the  various  churches 
in  the  place  and  many  of  their  members  and  heai'ers.  When  the 
meeting  became  gathered  and  settled  in  stillness,  I  arose  in  the  spirit 
and  power  of  God  and  addressed  the  people  about  one  hour,  during 
which  time  much  Christian  solemnity  covered  the  meeting ;  and 
when  I  closed  my  testimony  my  dear  wife  was  much  favored  with  a 
deep  and  weighty  prayer  to  God  for  the  various  classes  of  people  in 
attendance,  so  that  this  meeting  ended  to  the  glory  and  honor  i)f 
him  who  sent  us  to  this  place  ;  and  in  the  evening  we  also  held  an- 
other meeting  in  the  Methodist  chai)el,  which  was  likewise  largely 
attended,  wherein  the  gospel  was  preached  with  life  and  power  to 
edification  and  comfort.  Praised  forever  bo  tlie  miglity  name  of 
the  everlasting  God  I 

The  2Gth.  We  this  day  traveled  to  Belleville,  wlu're,  on  the  next 
day,  we  held  a  meeting  in  the  Baptist  meeting  house,  which  was  a 
small  but  good  meeting.  Those  in  attendance  were  tender  and 
thankful  for  the  favor  bestowed  on  us.  All  the  praise  is  alone  due 
to  the  Lord  ! 

The  28th.  We  spent  this  day  very  much  in  writing,  reading  and 
meditation,  and  m  visiting  some  families  of  Friends,  to  mutual 
strength,  edification  and  comfort. 

The  2Uth.     Wo  this  dav  set  out  for  Sand  Creek,  where  we  arrived 


18-W  JOUKNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  373 

on  the  next  day  in  the  evening,  and  were  very  kindly  entertained  at 
a  worthy  Friend's  house. 

lOth  month.  1st.  AVe  spent  this  day  in  quietness  and  in  resting, 
and  the  next  day  being  First-day,  we  attended  the  meeting  of 
Friends  at  Sand  Creek,  and  many  coming  in  who  were  not  mem- 
bers with  us,  so  that  it  was  a  large  and  good  meeting  ;  and  in  the 
evening  we  held  a  precious,  open  and  large  meeting  at  Columbus, 
in  the  Presbyterian  meeting-house.  In  this  meeting  the  Lord  was 
with  us  and  granted  us  wisdom,  strength  and  utterance,  to  the  glory 
of  his  name  and  to  the  benefit  and  edification  of  the  people. 

The  3d.  We  this  day  traveled  to  Friends'  neighborhood  of  Drift- 
Avood,  and  on  the  next  day  in  the  evenmg  we  held  a  good  aiid  open 
meeting  at  Seymour,  in  the  Presbyterian  meeting-house.  The  peo- 
ple in  attendance  Avere  still  and  quiet,  among  whom  the  gospel  was 
jireached  to  comfort  and  edification. 

The  5th.  We  this  day  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at  Drift- 
Avood,  among  Avhom  Ave  found  much  good  service  ;  and  in  the  after- 
noon we  traveled  about  tAventy-five  miles  to  Sycamore  Valley,  Avhere, 
on  the  next  day,  Ave  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends,  Avhere  we 
found  a  sincere  and  precious  flock  of  Friends,  among  Avhom  we  were 
comforted  and  refreshed  in  spirit ;  after  this  we  set  out  for  the 
neighborhood  of  Friends  of  Blue  River,  Avhere  Ave  arrived  in  time 
to  spend  the  8th  at  the  house  of  a  very  kind  friend^  in  quietness  and 
in  resting. 

The  9th.  Being  First-day,  and  a  season  of  much  religious  favor 
Avitli  us,  feeling  pretty  avcU  in  soul,  spirit  and  body,  we  this  day 
attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at  Blue  River,  which  was  well  at- 
tended by  Friends  and  others,  and  in  the  afternoon  we  held  a  meet- 
ing at  Salem,  in  the  Methodist  meeting-house.  In  both  these  meet- 
ings the  Lord,  through  the  spirit,  was  mercifully  Avith  us,  and  en- 
abled us  to  jireach  the  Avord  of  his  gospel  to  the  edifying  of  the 
upright  in  spirit  and  to  the  calling  of  sinners  to  repentance. 

The  10th.  We  set  out  this  morning  for  the  neighborhood  of 
Friends  of  Lick  Creek,  where  we  arrived  in  the  evening,  and  the 
next  day  we  spent  pleasantly  among  Friends  in  visiting  some  of  them 
from  house  to  house,  as  way  opened,  and  on  the  13th  Ave  attended 
their  PreparatiA^e  Meeting,  where  we  were  favored  with  the  testi- 
mony of  truth  to  good  satisfaction. 

The  loth.  We  this  day  attended  Newburg  Preparative  Meeting 
.of  Friends,  held  in  Birch  grove.  This  was  a  good  and  large  meet- 
ing, AA'herein  we  Avere  much  favored  in  gospel  ministry  and  in  prayer, 
to  good  satisfaction.     Blessed  be  the  Lord! 

The  14th.  We  this  day  set  out  for  Jeft'ersonville,  under  a  re- 
ligious concern  to  visit  the  State  prison  of  the  State  of  Indiana, 
where  we  arrived  on  the  next  day  in  the  eA'ening,  and  were  kindly 
received  by  all  the  officers  of  the  prison. 

The  IGth.     Being  First-day,  and  a  time  long  to  be  remembered. 


374  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  185» 

by  us.  Wefouml  hv  in(|niry,  the  number  of  tive  liundred  and  forty- 
two  prisoners  in  this  prison,  eleven  of  wliom  were  women,  among 
whom  we  were  granted  any  opportunity  that  wouhi  be  desired 
among  them  in  the  discharge  of  our  gospel  mission  toward  them. 
We  therefore  very  much  devoted  the  service  of  the  day  in  this 
prison.  In  the  morning  at  8  o'clock,  we  attended  the  Scriptural 
school  among  them,  and  found  it  to  be  well  conducted  by  the  State 
Cliaplain.  The  service  of  this  school  continued  about  two  hours, 
after  which  we  had  private  opportunities  with  some  of  the  prison- 
ers, as  way  opened  in  the  truth,  and  at  1  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
came  on  the  meeting  for  divine  worship  for  all  the  male  prison- 
ers, held  in  the  chapel-room,  and  after  sitting  awhile  in  silence 
among  them,  I  arose  with  feelings  of  deep  humility,  and  addressed 
them  in  the  love  of  the  gospel,  at  some  length.  They  were  very 
attentive,  and  some  of  them  were  tendered,  but  others  of  them  ap- 
peared to  be  much  hardened.  After  I  took  my  seat,  my  dear  wife 
was  drawn  forth  in  a  weight}^  manner  in  prayer  and  supplication  on 
their  behalf,  and  then  the  meeting  ended.  Our  next  service  was  to 
visit  those  in  the  cells;  passing  through  the  prison,  and  distributing 
tracts  among  the  prisoners,  giving  them  at  the  same  time  suitable 
advice,  as  way  opened,  all  of  which  being  received  by  them,  and 
after  j^assing  through  this  service  we  had  a  meeting  among  the 
female  prisoners,  wherein  the  service  mostly  fell  on  my  dear  wife, 
who  addressed  them  at  some  length  in  gospel  love,  during  which 
time  some  of  them  poured  forth  their  tears  and  cried  out  aloud 
under  a  deep  sense  of  their  sin  and  transgression.  After  this  meet- 
ing our  service  closed  in  this  jii'ison,  the  evening  of  the  day  having 
approached.  On  jsarting  with  the  prisoners,  both  men  and  women, 
in  many  instances,  with  tenderness  and  with  tears  took  their  leave 
of  us;  and  we,  on  our  part,  in  the  engagement  of  the  service 
whicli  fell  u]ion  us  this  day,  also  poured  forth  our  tears,  our 
hearts  being  filled  with  sorrow  in  behalf  of  so  many  of  our  fellow 
beings  thrown  into  prison,  in  consequence  of  the  commission  of  sin 
and  transgression.  We,  however,  had  cause  to  believe  that  these 
poor  prisoners  were  under  good  prison  discipline,  for  which  we 
felt  thankful,  and  in  closing  our  service  for  this  day  we  enjoyed  the 
sweetness  of  that  peace  of  mind  which  passeth  all  understanding. 
Blessed  foi-ever  be  the  name  of  the  glorious  and  everlasting  God  I 

The  17th.  We  this  morning  set  out  for  Livonia,  where  we  ar- 
rived on  tlie  next  day  in  time  to  attend  an  appointed  meeting  for 
divine  worship,  in  the  evening,  in  the  Presbyterian  chapel,  which,* 
under  divine  grace,  was  made  a  precious  and  heavenly  season.  The 
people  in  attendance  were  kind,  affectionate,  and  thankful  for  the 
opportunity.      Praised  be  the  name  of" God. 

The  lOtii.  We  this  evening  held  a  good,  open  and  heavenly 
meeting  at  Paoli,  in  the  Methodist  meeting-house.  The  Lord  was 
with  us  in  this  meeting,  and  eiuibled  us  to  labor  in  his  name  to 


18G0  JOURNAL   OF   THOifAS    AllNETT.  375 

the  edification  and  satisfaction  of  the  j^eople.  Blessed  forever  be 
his  name! 

The  "^Oth.  We  this  day  lield  a  good  open  meetino-  at  Newbury, 
for  Friends  and  others,  among  whom  we  had  much  gospel  labor, 
we  hope  much  to  the  benefit  and  edification  of  those  in  attend- 
ance. 

The  21st.  We  this  day  attended  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Min- 
isters and  Elders  of  Blue  Elver  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends  held 
at  Lick  Creek,  which  season  with  me  was  a  low  time.  I  mourned 
in  spirit,  and  felt  destitute,  and  had  to  walk  by  faith  and  not  by 
sight. 

The  22nd.  In  attending  the  Quarterly  Meeting  for  Worship  and 
Discipline,  we  found  much  good  service  in  the  truth.  My  mind  was 
much  opened  in  the  love  of  the  gospel  in  delivering  a  very  en- 
couraging testimony  to  Friends,  adverting  to  the  example  of  the 
prophets  and  apostles,  in  regard  to  suffering  affliction  and  main- 
taining that  true  patience  which  divine  grace  inculcates.  This 
was  a  good  and  highly  favored  meeting. 

The  23rd.  Being  First-day,  and  a  time  long  to  be  remembered 
"by  many.  The  public  meeting  for  divine  worship  was  largely  at- 
tended by  people  of  different  religious  persuasions,  and  also  by  many 
who  made  no  profession  of  religion.  The  service  of  this  meeting 
very  much  fell  upon  us,  in  which  I  was  largely  opened  in  the  illus- 
tration of  the  doctrine  of  Christianity,  to  the  benefit,  tenderness, 
humility  and  edification  of  the  people.  Praised  forever  be  the 
name  of  the  Lord  ! 

After  this,  feeling  a  quiet  retreat  granted  us  from  this  field  of 
labor,  by  him  who  sent  us  forth,  we  therefore  turned  our  faces 
homeward,  where  we  arrived  with  true  peace  of  mind,  and  with 
thankful  hearts,  by  carriage  and  railroad  conveyance,  on  the  28th, 
after  beiug  from  home  about  the  space  of  three  months. 

In  the  })roseeution  of  this  journey,  Friends  and  others  were  very 
kind  to  us  throughout  the  whole  of  this  dedication  ;  so  that  we 
found  no  difficulty  in  being  conveyed  from  place  to  ]ilace,  for 
Friends  were  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  their  duty  in  waiting  upon 
us,  so  as  to  promote  the  cause  of  truth  and  righteousuess  in  which 
we  were  engaged,  and  others  were  glad  to  receive  us  and  kindly 
to  entertain  us  in  parts  where  no  members  of  our  religious  society 
resided. 

We  beseech  thee,  0  Lord,  everlasting  God,  to  bless  the  service 
of  tliis  dedication  to  many  whom  we  visited  in  the  love  of  thy  gos- 
pel; and  carry  on  thy  work  in  this  world  till  ''the  earth  shall  be 
filled  with  the  knowledge  of"  thy  "glory"  "as  the  waters  cover 
the  sea."     And  thy  will  in  all  things  be  done.     Amen. 

In  the  opening  of  this  year,  1860,  I  was  inspired  with  deep  hu- 
mility and  thankfulness  to  God  for  all  his  mercies  and  blessings 
bestowed   upon  me.     The  language  of  my  spirit  was:  "Bless  the 


376  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    AKXETT.  im 

Lord,  0  my  soul,  and  all  that  is  within  me  ;  bless  his  holy  name. 
Bless  the  Tjord,  0  my  soul,  and  forget  not  all  his  benefits,"  who  hath 
forgiven  all  thine  iniquities,  and  taketh  care  of  thee  under  all  the 
circumstances  of  this  life,  executing  for  thee  righteousness  and 
judgment,  according  to  his  mercy,  loving  kindness,  grace,  jireser- 
vation,  providence,  truth  and  continual  23rotection. 

Among  the  various  services  that  fell  upon  me  through  the  course 
of  this  year  was  that,  in  the  discharge  of  my  religious  duty,  of 
holding  many  public  meetings  for  divine  worship,  for  Friends  and 
others,  around  about  in  these  parts,  visiting  in  gospel  love  most  of 
the  cities,  towns  and  villages  in  this  part  of  the  country.  The 
most  of  these  meetings  were  largely  attended  by  people  of  different 
religious  persuasions,  and  in  all  of  them  the  Lord  was  with  me, 
and  granted  me  strength,  wisdom  and  utterance  to  labor  in  the 
gospel,  to  the  glory  of  his  name  and  to  the  benefit  and  edification 
of  the  people,  many  of  whom  in  many  instances  were  broken  down 
into  much  tenderness,  and  had  cause  to  acknowledge  that  of  a 
truth  the  Lord  hath  been  with  us  on  these  solemn  occasions.  In  a 
number  of  these  meetings  my  dear  Avife  participated  with  me  in 
this  concern,  and  had  much  service  in  the  gospel,  and  we  were 
thankful  in  believing  that  the  Lord  was  jiouring  out  his  spirit  upon 
the  children  of  men. 

It  ap])ears  to  me  that  the  Avoi'ld  has  passed  through  few  more 
eventful  years  than  this.  It  has  been  marked  by  powerful  revivals 
and  mighty  revolutions.  The  current  of  affairs  in  civil  and  relig- 
ious life  has  rushed  on  with  all  the  force  and  fullness  of  a  mighty 
torrent,  to  the  shaking  and  awakening  of  many.  The  gospel  has 
been  preached,  and  many  souls  have  been  converted  to  God.  May 
he  carry  on  the  work  of  reformation  in  the  earth,  consistent  with 
the  counsel  of  his  own  will,  till  the  glorious  day  shall  be  realized 
when  "the  mountain  of  the  Lord's  house  shall  be  established  in 
the  top  of  the  mountains,  and  shall  be  exalted  above  the  hills,  and 
all  nations  shall  flow  unto  it,  and  many  people  shall  go  and  say, 
'come  ye,  and  let  us  go  up  to  the  mountain  of  the  Lord,  and  to  the 
house  of  the  God  of  Jacob,  and  he  will  teach  us  of  his  ways,  and 
we  will  walk  in  his  paths;'  for  out  of  Zion  shall  go  forth  the  law, 
and  the  word  of  the  law  from  Jerusalem,  and  he  shall  judge  among 
the  nations,  and  shall  rebuke  many  people;  and  they  shall  beat 
their  swords  into  ])lowshares,  and  their  spears  into  pruning-hooks. 
Nation  shall  not  lift  up  sword  against  nation,  neither  shall  they 
learn  war  any  more,"  and  when  "the  earth  shall  be  full  of  the 
knowledge  of  the  Lord,  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea." 

Amidst  the  excitement,  agitation,"  Commotion  and  revolution, 
rolling  on  among  tke  civilized  nations  of  the  earth  in  the  jiresent 
day,  it  appears  to  me  that  in  this  respect  this  country  stands  most 
l)romineiit.  'J^'he  signs  of  the  times  in  this  great  republic  have 
long  been  portentous.     The  combined   sins  of  individuals  do  more 


)8fio  JOURNAL    OF    THOMAS    AKNETT.  377 

or  less  form  the  accumulated  iniquities  of  a  nation,  and  the  iniquity 
of  this  country  has  come  to  be  very  great,  and  has  reached  up  unto 
heaven,  and  "in  consequence  thereof  a  very  awful  and  dreadful 
judgment  has  assailed  our  beloved  country. 

This  government,  ever  since  it  was  instituted,  has  been,  it  appears 
to  me,  very  much  under  slave-holding  policy,  so  that  all  the  presi- 
dents and  vice-presidents  that  have  been  elected,  either  the  one  or 
the  other  have  been  slave-holders,  till  the  election  in  the  autumn  of 
this  year,  when  the  people  who  had  the  right  of  suffrage  succeeded 
in  the  election  of  anti-slavery  candidates  to  the  high  office  of  presi- 
dent and  vice-president,  who  were  elected  by  a  very  hirge  majority 
of  votes,  which  was  a  dreadful  shock  upon  the  shive-holders  and 
upon  slavery. 

I  have  long  believed  that  slavery  in  this  coutitry  would  eventually 
be  abolished  by  peaceful  legislation  or  through  confusion  and  vio- 
lence. I  have  now  lost  all  hope  of  the  peaceful  abolition  of  slavery 
in  these  United  States.  Much  has  been  done  for  many  years  past 
in  various  ways  and  forms,  under  divine  grace,  pleading  witii  the 
rulers  of  this  land  to  break  off  the  sin  of  slavery  and  let  the 
opi)ressed  go  free,  that  the  tranquility  of  this  country  may  be  con- 
tinued uninterrupted;  but  all  such  warning  and  expostulation  have 
been  resisted  by  the  slave-holding  policy. 

It  is  an  awfui  consideration,  that  so  far  as  I  can  trace  back  the 
history  of  the  human  race,  I  discover  the  existence  of  the  sin  of 
slavery.  One  of  the  most  obvious  causes  of  this  sin  is  to  be  found 
in  the  almost  incessant  wars  wliich  were  carried  on  the  early  periods 
of  the  world  between  tribes  and  nations,  in  which  prisoners  taken 
in  war  were  either  slain  or  reduced  to  slavery. 

Shivery  never  has  been,  nor  never  can  be,  instituted  consistent 
with  the  divine  will.  It  is  a  sin  that  stands  utterly  repugnant  to 
the  light  of  the  Christian  religion,  and  I  believe  that  no  civil  gov- 
ernment can  stand  on  a  sure  basis  where  this  enormous  sin  exists  and 
is  cherished.  This  truth  has  been  abundantly  realized  in  this 
country.  The  various  churches  in  these  United  States  have  for 
many  years  ])ast  been  dreadfully  agitated  and  shaken  in  consequence 
of  the" cruel  oppression  of  the  African  race,  and  in  many  of  them 
separations  have  been  realized;  and  I  believe  that  had  all  the 
evangelical  churches  reared  up  a  standard  against  slavery  at  or  about 
tlie  time  that  the  Society  of  Friends  did,  and  concentrated  their 
ettorts  with  us,  and  labored  in  maintaining  a  faithful  testimony 
against  this  evil,  as  we  have  done,  that  slavery  would  have  been 
peacefully  abolished  before  this  time  in  this  country;  but  now  it 
appears  to  me  that  it  m;iv  be  abolished  through  violence  and  blood- 
shed. 

Througii  the  course  of  this  year  the  census  of  the  United  States 
was  taken,  according  to  the  law  of  this  land,  the  whole  population 
amounting  to  about  thirty  millions,  there  being  about  twenty  mill- 


378  JOURN'AL    OF   THOMAS    ARXETT,  18*) 

ions  in  the  free  States,  so  called,  and  about  ten  millions  in  the 
slave  States,  and  about  four  millions  of  that  number  being  slaves. 
In  the  platform  of  the  presidential  election  this  autumn  it  was  re- 
solved that  no  more  slave  territory  should  be  added  to  these  United 
States.  In  this  resolution  the  sin  of  slavery  was  felt  to  be  very 
enormous,  and,  in  consideration  of  the  fugitive  slave  law  being 
supported  by  our  general  government,  the  conviction  was  felt  that 
this  whole  great  republic  is  implicated  in  this  terrible  and  awful 
sin;  therefore,  it  was  and  is  the  desire  of  many  to  take  a  firm  stand, 
so  as  to  avert  this  evil  from  off  the  face  of  our  beloved  country, 
which  has  prospered  and  improved,  under  divine  providence,  equal 
to  any  country  in  all  the  world  for  the  sjjace  of  upwards  of  the  past 
three-fourths  of  a  centurj^  When  the  intelligence  of  all  this  move- 
ment reached  the  slave-holders,  seeing  that  the  scejDter  had  departed 
from  them,  and  they  not  being  willing  to  be  governed  by  the  ma- 
jority, as  is  usual  in  a  republican  form  of  government,  and  being 
also  determined  to  hold  on  to  the  sin  of  slavery,  in  violation  to  the 
right  of  man,  many  of  them  therefore  revolted — violated  their  alle- 
giance to  the  government  of  the  United  States — reared  up  their 
defiance  to  the  rightful  rulers  thereof,  and  went  out  into  open  re- 
bellion, which  "is  as  tiie  sin  of  witchcraft,"  and  is  utterly  incompat- 
ible with  the  Holy  Scriptures,  for  therein  it  is  inculcated  ''to  be 
subject  to  principalities  and  powers,  to  obey  magistrates,  to  be  ready 
to  every  good  work."  "Whosoever,  therefore,  resisteth  the  power, 
resistcth  the  ordinance  of  God;  and  they  that  resist  shall  receive  to 
themselves  damnation,''  so  that  a  rebellion  against  civil  government 
is  a  terrible  and  awful  sin. 

It  appears  to  me,  however,  according  to  the  precepts  of  the  gos- 
pel, that  the  civil  magistracy  has  no  right  to  usurp  authority  over 
tender,  religious  conscience.  In  matters  of  this  nature  God  alone  is 
to  be  obeyed;  yet  when  such  usurpation  does  take  place  it  is  the 
duty  of  all  the  followers  of  Christ,  when  their  religious  principles 
come  in  contact  with  the  civil  authorities  under  which  they  live,  to 
bear  patiently  the  persecution  that  may  come  upon  them.  This 
has  been  the  invariable  practice  of  the  genuine  Church  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ. 

It  appears  to  me  that  the  framers  of  the  constitution  and  laws  of 
our  general  governmcjnt  never  intended  the  perpetual  continuance 
of  slavery  in  this  country.  They  were  impressed,  I  believe,  Avith  a 
sense  of  the  just  rights  of  man,  in  issuing  this  sentiment  in  the 
Declaration  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States:  "We  hold 
these  truths  to  be  self-evident,  that  all  men  are  created  equal;  that 
they  are  endowed  by  their  Creator  Avith  inherent  and  unalienable 
rights;  that  among  these  are  life,  liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of  hap- 
piness." 

The  principles  developed  in  this  sentiment  would,  I  ajjprehend, 
if  carried  out  consistent  with  the  divine  will,  embrace  every  right 


18U1  JOUKNAL   OF   THOMAS    AUN'ETT.  379 

opening  for  the  peaceful  abolition  of  the  sin  of  slavery;  for  the 
whole  human  family,  without  distinction  as  to  nation  or  color,  are 
our  fellow-beings,  and  are  equally  endowed,  through  the  mercy  of 
God,  with  all  the  privileges,  both  civil,  and  religious,  attendant  on 
the  human  race;  for  he  "hath  made  of  one  blood  all  nations  of 
men,  for  to  dwell  on  all  the  face  of  the  earth,"  therefore  all  are 
equally  near  and  dear  to  him  in  the  love  of  Christian  redemption; 
and  it  is  the  duty  of  all  who  fear  and  love  him,  who  pray  to  him 
consistent  with  his  will,  who  worship  him  in  spirit  and  in  truth, 
and  who  walk  uprightly  before  him,  to  plead  the  cause  of  those  who 
are  degraded  and  trodden  down  under  cruel  oi)i)ression,  "to  loose 
the  bonds  of  wickedness,  to  undo  the  heavy  burdens,  and  to  let  the 
oppressed  go  free;"  and  if  all  who  profess  the  Christian  name  every- 
where would,  under  divine  grace,  live  in  the  faithful  discharge  of 
these  duties  in  that  pure  love  which  breathes  "glory  to  God  in  the 
highest  and  on  earth,  peace,  good  will  toward  men,"  then,  I  believe, 
that  life,  liberty  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness  would  generally  be 
enjoyed  in  the  earth. 

in  the  fore  part  of  this  year,  1861,  several  of  the  Southern  and 
Southwestern  slave-holding  States  revolutionized,  and  formed  into 
a  separate  government,  without  any  just  cause,  violating  the  law  of 
God  and  of  civilized  nations.  In  this  revolt  many  of  the  slave- 
holders are  guilty  of  the  most  awful  treason  and  rebellion,  for  they 
are  endeavoring  to  revolutionize  all  the  slave  states  into  their  pro- 
posed separate  government,  and  to  overthrow  tliis  government;  and 
while  there  are  many  of  tliis  descrijjtion  in  all  the  slave  States,  yet 
there  are  those  in  all  of  them  who  are  loyal  to  this  government  and 
advocate  the  faithful  maintenance  thereof. 

This  revolution  thus  rolling  on  with  the  horrors  of  sin  and  ini((- 
uity,  till  in  the  si)ring  of  this  year,  when  the  rebels,  contrary  to  the 
laws  of  nations,  opened  fire  upon  one  of  the  Southern  forts  of  the 
United  States,  which  opened  the  way  for  defense  by  hostility,  by 
soldiers  of  this  government,  who  were  placed  there  according  to 
law  for  the  defense  thereof;  thus  civil  w.ir  being  opened  in  our  once 
tranquil  and  prosperous  country,  and,  in  consideration  of  which, 
our  President  issued  his  pioclamation,  calling  for  a  large  number  of 
volunteers  to  organize  out  of  the  various  States  of  the  United 
States,  so  as  to  stand  ready,  under  his  command,  to  go  forth  to  put 
down  rebellion  where  it  exists  in  this  country,  in  consequence  of 
this  revolt  of  the  slave-holders.  The  free  States,  so  called,  are  so 
generally  united  that  in  the  course  (if  a  frw  mouths,  including 
many  loyal  citizens  of  the  slave  States,  upwards  of  six  hundred 
thousand  troops  volunteered^  organizid,  and  are  now  in  the  field  de- 
fending this  government. 

The  insurgents,  m  nominating  and  appointing  their  officers,  con- 
trary to  the  usuage  of  a  republican  fuim  of  goverameut,  assumed 
the  appellation  of  the  Southern  Coufederacy  of  North  America. 


380  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  J861 

Their  President,  so  called,  also  ordered  out  a  large  number  of 
troops,  to  enable  liini,  togetlier  witli  his  coadjutors,  to  carry  on 
their  i-ebellious  work;  biit  soon  finding  that  they  could  not  obtain 
their  troops  by  volunteering,  adopted  a  very  severe  plan  to  force  out, 
under  their  command,  ordering  them  into  their  army  or  leave  their 
States,  and  in  this  way  they  eventually  gathered  out  into  the  field 
upwards  of  four  hundred  thousand  troops. 

In  consequence  of  such  arbitrary  procedure,  in  many  instances 
our  dear  Friends  in  the  slave  States  were  brought  under  extreme 
suffering,  and  indeed  all  our  dear  Friends  in  this  great  republic  are 
brought  under  much  trial  in  maintaining  our  testimony  to  the 
peaceable  nature  of  the  kingdom  of  the  Prince  of  Peace,  and  it  is 
he  alone  who  can  preserve  us  on  the  sure  foundation  in  this  day  of 
agitation,  commotion  and  civil  war.  Since  hostility  commenced 
there  have  been  many  battles  fought  in  the  slave  States,  those  parts 
being  made  the  seat  of  war,  and  in  some  of  those  parts  the  country 
is  thrown  into  a  disgraceful  and  awful  anarchy,  the  rebels  commit- 
ting depredations  and  outrages  on  loyal  citizens  in  various 
ways  and  forms,  perhaps  not  surpassed  in  the  most  darkened  savage 
parts  of  the  heathen  world. 

Many  have  already,  in  this  war,  on  both  sides,  fallen  in  battle,  and 
while  the  war  spirit  is  much  increasing  within  our  borders,  the 
whole  country,  in  consideration  of  carrying  on  a  civil  war,  is  brought 
under  very  dee]^,  awful,  and  intense  excitement,  together  in  many 
instances  with  weepings  mourning,  and  lamentation. 

Tliis  great  country,  which  has  sprung  up  in  ^Jrosperity  under  the 
hand  of  divine  providence,  to  the  wonder  and  admiration  of  the 
civilized  nations  of  the  earth,  has  now  become  belligerent;  and  the 
spread  of  so  dreadful  a  calamity  upon  us,  has  much,  excited  the 
civil  authorities  of  the  world,  and  aroused  the  war  spirit  in  many 
instances  among  the  people  of  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth,  so  that 
the  present  is  an  awful  day,  not  only  in  this  country,  but  in  many 
instances  elsewhere. 

In  the  approach  of  this  dreadful  calamity  upon  my  country,  I 
was  very  deeply  affected;  I  was  grieved  in  sj)irit,  I  mourned  in  soli- 
tary ])laces,  I  shed  many  tears,  and  poured  out  my  soul  in  private 
and  in  public,  in  jirayer  and  supplication  to  God  on  behalf  of  this 
land.  I  cried  out  with  the  prophet  in  this  language,  "  My  bowels, 
my  bowels!  I  am  pained  at  my  very  heart;  my  heart  maketh  a  noise 
in  me,  I  cannot  hold  my  peace,  because  thou  hast  heard,  0  my 
soul,  the  sound  of  the  trumpet,  tlic  alarm  of  Avar,  destruction 
u])on  destruction  is  cried." 

It  is,  indeed,  a  "cloudy  and  dark  day,"  "  a  day  of  wrath,  a  day 
of  trouble  and  distress,  a  day  of  wastencss  and  desolation,  a  day  of 
darkness  and  gloominess,  a  day  of  clouds  and  thick  darkness,"  and 
"a  day  of  the  trumpet  and  alarm  against  "  slavery  and  many  other 
enormous  accumulated  sins,  evils,   iniquities,   and   transgressions 


i8»;i  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  381 

committed  in  this  country;  and  I  believe  that  these  troubles  and 
calamities  will  never  fully  subside  till  slavery  in  some  way  or  other 
is  abolished  in  this  great  republic. 

Under  a  sense  of  the  turning  and  overturning  of  the  hand  of 
God  upon  this  guilty  nation,  in  consequence  of  sin  and  transgres- 
sion, I  also  cried  out  with  the  proiahet  in  this  language:  ''With 
my  soul  have  I  desired  thee  in  the  night;  yea,  with  my  spirit  with- 
in me,  will  I  seek  thee  early;  for  when  thy  judgments  are  in  the 
earth,  the  inhabitants  of  the  world  will  learn  righteousness.  J^et 
favor  be  showed  to  the  wicked,  yet  will  he  not  learn  righteousness; 
in  the  land  of  uprightness  will  he  deal  unjustly,  and  will  not  be- 
hold the  majesty  of  the  Lord. 

In  this  national  scourge  now  upon  us,  while  many  deal  unjustly  in 
this  land,  yet  there  are  many  among  us  who  are  deeply  humbled  as 
in  dust  and  ashes,  and  are  daily  more  and  more  learning  righteous- 
ness, and  also  are  deepening  in  the  root  of  immortal  life. 

I  believe  that  God  is  gradually  and  mysteriously  carrying  on  his 
work  in  the  worl'd,  according  to  this  prophetic  testimony  of  the 
prophet:  "  Come,  behold  the  works  of  the  Lord,  what  desolations 
he  hath  made  in  the  earth;  he  maketh  wars  to  cease  unto  the  end 
of  the  earth;  he  breaketh  the  bow,  and  cutteth  the  spear  in  sun- 
der; he  burnetii  the  chariot  in  the  fire;  be  still,  and  know  that  I 
am  God.  I  will  be  exalted  among  tbe  heathen;  I  will  be  exalted  in 
the  earth."  God  will,  I  believe,  in  his  own  way  and  time,  carry  out 
the  truth  of  this  testimony,  till  "  the  kingdoms  of  this  world  are 
become  the  kingdoms  of  our  Lord,  and  of  his  Christ,"  for  "  the 
earth  is  the  Lord\.  and  the  fullness  thereof,  the  world,  and  they 
that  dwell  therein,"  ''and  he  shall  reign  forever  and  ever." 

It  appears  to  me,  that  of  all  the  evils  which  disturb  the  tran- 
quillity and  lay  waste  the  welfare  of  the  human  family,  there  is 
none  which  operates  to  so  great  an  extent,  or  with  so  prodigious 
desolation,  as  that  of  war.  This  tremendous  and  dreadfully  pre- 
vailing scourge,  is  ])roductive  of  an  incalculable  amount  of  bodily 
and  mutual  suffering,  so  that  it  may  be  considered  one  of  the  most 
terrible  enemies  of  the  happiness  of  the  human  race,  and  should 
be  regarded  as  an  awful  iniquity  interwoven  with  a  variety  of  evils, 
and  is  much  calculated  to  render  the  heart  of  man  callous  to  the 
feelings  and  sympathy  of  humanity. 

In  consideration  of  the  utter  repugnancy  of  war  to  the  Christian 
religion,  it  is  a  matter  of  wonder  to  me  that  the  Society  of  Friends 
are  almost  the  only  Christian  church  who  hold  it  to  be  their  duty 
to  God,  to  their  neighbor,  and  to  themselves,  entirely  to  abstain 
from  that  most  injurious  practice.  We  believe,  and  that  with  no 
small  degree  of  earnestness  and  conviction,  that  all  war,  whether 
offensive  or  defensive,  and  whatever  may  be  its  peculiar  features, 
circumstances,  or  pretexts,  is  wholly  at  variance  with  the  revealed 
character  and   known  principles  of  the   Christian   religion,  and  is 


382  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    AKNETT.  1862 

the  consequence  of  sin,  and  "  lusts  that  war  in  "  the  "  members" 
of  the  children  of  men. 

While  tliere  are  many  Christians  among  other  religious  denomi- 
nations who  unite  with  Friends  that  all  warfare  carried  on  among 
the  nations  of  the  earth  is  wrong,  yet  Friends,  as  a  church, 
stand  almost  alone  in  maintaining  a  true  and  comjDlete  testimony 
against  war,  and  all  the  horrors  and  evils  thereof  ;  and  for  my  own 
part,  it  appears  to  me  to  be  inconsistent  with  the  precepts  of  the 
gospel  for  man  to  take  the  life  of  man,  under  any  circumstances 
whatever;  I  believe  that  this  is  alone  the  prerogative  of  God. 

There  is  a  better  way  to  settle  public  disputes  than  by  the  force 
of  arms;  and  it  would  seem  to  me  that  the  evils  already  known 
to  be  consequent  upon  war,  ought  to  be  sufficient  to  induce  the 
churches,  the  humane,  and  the  civilized  nations  of  the  earth  to 
devise  some  pacific,  efficient  and  j^ermanent  plan  whereby  national 
difficulties  may  be  adjusted  without  resorting  to  the  sword. 

I  believe  that  it  would-be  a  very  desirable  movement  if  the  rulers, 
together  with  the  people  of  the  civilized  nations  of  the  earth,  would 
enter  into  a  united  compact  in  instituting  a  great  national  court  of 
arbitration  and  adjustment,  in  which  all  differences  among  the  con- 
tracting parties  may  be  finally  settled,  not  merely  by  way  of  recom- 
mendation, but  by  a  plenary  authority,  grounded  on  the  judgment 
of  the  united  powers  of  the  Christian  world. 

If  a  tribunal  of  this  nature  could  be  instituted,  sustained  and 
conducted  in  a  right  spirit,  I  believe  that  it  would  be  wonderfully 
calculated  to  supersede  the  calamity  of  war,  and  to  promote  and  ad- 
vance the  princij)les  of  peace,  harmony,  righteousness,  charity,  be- 
nevolence, and  "good  will  toward  men,"  among  the  inhabitants  of 
the  nations  and  kingdoms  of  the  earth. 

I,  together  with  my  dear  wife,  having  been  impressed  for  a  con- 
siderable time  past  with  a  concern  to  pay  a  religious  visit,  as  far  as 
way  should  open,  to  Friends  and  others  in  the  State  of  Iowa,  and  also 
to  stand  resigned  to  such  service  as  might  fall  upon  us  on  the  way 
going  and  returning,  after  obtaining  the  needful  certificates  from  our 
Monthly  and  Quarterly  Meetings  for  the  performance  of  this  dedi- 
cation, we  set  out  in  the  prosecution  thereof,  with  feelings  of  deep 
humility  and  prayer  to  God  for  our  preservation  and  protection  on 
every  hand,  on  the  IGth  day  of  the  5th  month,  18G2,  and  went  to  the 
house  of  our  kind  friend  Thomas  Miller,  who,  on  the  next  day,  set 
out  with  us  with  his  own  conveyance,  and  traveled  to  Whitewater, 
where,  on  the  18th,  being  First-day,  we  attended  the  meeting  of 
Friends,  which  was  large  and  much  owned  by  the  Good  Shei)lierd 
of  Israel  ;  and  on  the  19th  and  30th  we  traveled  to  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Greenwood,  where,  on  the  21st,  we  attended  Friends'  meet- 
ing and  found  ourselves  cast  in  among  a  precious  little  flock,  to  our . 
comfort  and  consolation  ;  and  on  the  22d  we  went  to  Thorntown, 
where,  on  the  23d  and  24:th,  we  attended  the  service  of  Concord 


1862  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  383 

Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends,  held  in  this  neighborhood,  and  found 
therein  much  good  service  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  ;  and  on  the 
25th,  being  First-day,  the  public  Quarterly  Meeting  for  worship 
was  very  large,  wherein  the  gospel  stream  flowed,  to  the  watering 
of  many  precious  souls,  and  warning  and  calling  sinners  to  repent- 
ance ;  and  in  the  evening  we  held  a  large  and  interesting  meeting 
in  Thorntown,  in  the  Methodist  meetiug-house,  wiierc  we  were 
enabled,  under  divine  grace,  to  preach  tlie  gospel  to  a  very  attentive 
congregation,  to  cMjmfort  and  edification  ;  and  on  tlie  next  day  we 
went  to  the  neighborhood  of  Greenfield,  where,  after  visiting  a  few 
families,  Ave  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  on  the  28tli,  and 
Avere  mutually  comforted  with  friends.  Here  we  parted  with  our 
dear  friend  Thomas  Miller,  he  feeling  his  mind  turned  homeward, 
according  to  his  prospect  Avhen  he  left  home;  and  on  the  29th  we 
went  on  railroad  conveyance  ac  Lafayette  for  Muscatine,  in  Iowa, 
where  we  landed  on  the  next  day  with  thankfnl  hearts,  and  found 
Friends  of  this  place  to  be  kind  and  affectionate  to  us.  Soon  after 
our  arrival  there  was  a  terrible  and  awful  thunder  shower  for  nearly 
an  hour;  the  rain  came  down  in  toi'rents  ;  and  this  storm  did  mnch 
damage  in  this  city,  and  also  in  the  adjacent  country  around  about 
for  a  considerable  distance.     It  was,  indeed,  a  memorable  time. 

Sixth  month  1st.  Being  First-day,  and  a  season  long  to  be  re- 
membered by  many,  we  were  deeply  humbled  in  prayer  and  suppli- 
cation to  God  in  consideration  of  the  prospect  before  us.  We  this 
morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  in  this  city,  and  in  the 
evening  we  held  a  large  public  meeting  for  the  citizens  thereof  in 
the  Methodist  meeting-house.  The  Lord  was  with  us  this  day,  and 
granted  us  Avisdom,  strength,  and  utterance,  to  the  glory  of  his 
name  and  to  the  peace  of  our  minds.  Praised  forever  be  his  name, 
for  He  is  Avorthy  ! 

The  2d.  We  this  day  Avent  to  the  neighborhood  of  Blooming- 
ton,  where,  on  the  next  day,  we  held  a  meeting  for  Friends  and 
others,  among  whom  we  were  much  opened  in  the  ministry  of  the 
gospel, 

-  The  4th.  We  this  day  traveled  to  Friends'  neighborhood  of  Aber- 
deen, Avhere,  on  the  next  day,  we  attended  their  meeting,  as  it  came 
in  course,  and  found  ourselves  among  a  sincere  and  interesting 
company  of  Friends,  with  Avhom  Ave  Avere  much  favored  in  gospel 
ministry. 

The  fJth.  We  this  evening  held  a  small,  interesting  meeting  at 
Center  for  Friends  and  others,  Avhere  Ave  found  good  service  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord,  to  mutual  satisfaction  ;  and  on  the  next  day  Ave 
held  a  meeting  for  Friends  and  others  at  Honey  Grove.  This  meet- 
ing Avas  Avell  attended,  and  a  precious  degree  of  Christian  solemnity 
pervaded  us,  and  in  the  opening  of  the  love  of  the  gospel  every  soul 
in  the  meeting  appeared  to  be  visited  and  humbled  before  the  Lord. 
Blessed  be  his  name  forevermore  ! 


384  JOURXAL    OF   THOMAS   AKXETT.  iSiii 

The  8tli.  Being  First-day,  we  this  morniug  attended  the  meet- 
ing of  Friends  at  Red  Cedar,  wherein  we  were  much  opened  in 
prayer  and  in  the  ministry  of  the  gospel,  to  good  satisfaction  ;  and 
in  the  evening  we  held  a  meeting  in  Iowa  City,  in  the  Methodist 
meeting-house.  There  were  several  htindred  of  the  first  characters 
in  the  various  churches  in  this  city  in  attendance.  The  meeting 
room  was  crowded.  A  precious  degree  of  solemnity  covered  this 
interesting  congregation.  All  were  Temarkably  still  and  quiet;  and 
the  great  doctrine  of  Christian  redemption  was  opened  and  illus- 
trated to  edification. 

The  9th.  We  this  afternoon  held  a  meeting  at  Crosswicks,  which 
was  well  attended  by  Friends  and  others  ;  and  in  Christian  love  it 
appeared  to  us  that  all  were  visited  and  much  humbled  in  sj^irit. 
Praised  forever  be  the  everlasting  God  I 

The  10th.  Wc  this  evening  held  a  meeting  at  Pedee,  a  Presby- 
terian meeting-house,  situated  in  a  country  place.  The  fore  ])art 
of  this  meeting  was  trying,  but  at  length  truth  arose  and  granted 
a  renewed  visitation  to  us. 

The  11th.  AVe  this  day,  with  much  humility  of  spirit,  attended 
Red  Cedar  Monthly  Meeting,  where  we  met  a  large  company  of 
interesting,  intelligent,  and  well-concerned  Friends,  among  whom 
we  were  opened  and  authorized  to  preach  the  glad  tidings  of  tin- 
gospel,  to  the  humility  and  edification  of  Friends;  among  whom, 
also,  we  were  comforted  and  much  encouraged  to  hold  on  our  way 
in  the  prosecution  of  our  gospel  mission  to  Friends  and  others  in 
this  land.     Praised  forever  be  the  name  of  the  Lord  I 

The  12th.  We  this  morning  set  out  for  the  neighborhood  of 
Salem,  where  we  landed  in  time  to  attend  Cedar  Creek  Monthly 
Meeting  on  the  14th ;  and  although  w^ay  opened  for  service  for  us. 
yet  we  were  made  sensible  that  it  was  a  low  time  in  this  meeting  in 
respect  to  true,  saving  religion.  Friends  were  exhorted  to  live  nigh 
the  truth  and  near  one  another  in  spirit,  so  as  to  deepen  in  the  root 
of  immortal  life  and  to  bear  the  reproach  of  Christ. 

The  15th.  Being  First-day,  and  a  season  of  deep  experience  to 
us,  we  this  morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at  Salem,  and 
in  the  evening  we  held  a  public  meeting  there  for  Friends  and 
others  ;  and  Avliile  we  were  called  upon  to  labor  in  the  love  of  the 
gospel  in  these  meetings  at  this  place,  yet  we  felt  that  all  Avas  not 
right  amongst  Friends  in  this  neighborhood.  We,  however,  were 
enabled  to  discharge  our  duty  consistent  with  the  spirit  of  the  gos- 
pel, so  that  on  our  part  we  felt  pretty  Avell  satisfied  with  this  day's 
labor. 

The  IGth.  We  this  day  held  a  meeting  for  Friends  and  others  at 
Chestnut  Hill,  which  was  a  large  and  crowded  meeting,  and  not 
very  well  settled,  there  being  in  attendance  so  many  children  and 
infants  who  were  not  quiet  and  still.  The  Lord,  however,  enabled 
us  to  preach  the  gosi)el,  to  the  benefit  and  edification  of  many. 
Praised  forevei-  be  his  name  I 


isb-  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    AUNETT.  'AS') 

The  11th.  Uiu-  Dieeting  to-day  was  at  Pilot  Grove,  Avhicli  was  a 
time  long  to  be  remembered,  some  valuable  Friends  being  in  attend- 
ance. While  my  dear  Avife  was  engaged  in  prayer,  one  of  our  mem- 
bers, a  man,  fell  down  under  the  stroke  of  a  convulsive  fit,  and  had 
to  be  carried  out,  which  much  disturbed  the  meeting,  but  she  was 
favored  to  pass  through  her  prayer,  to  the  glory  and  praise  of  God. 
And  afterward,  while  I  was  preaching  the  gospel,  some  of  the 
plastering  fell  down  from  the  ceiling  above  upon  the  heads  of  those 
under  it,  but  they  were  not  hurt,  but  amidst  all  this  the  truth  so 
reigned  that  ^ve  had  a  good  and  blessed  meeting. 

The  18th.  We  this  day  attended  Salem  Monthly  Meeting,  and 
wliile  we  had  to  mourn  in  spirit  under  the  conviction  that  many 
mighty  works  could  not  be  done  there,  because  of  unbelief,  yet 
truth,  in  degree,  opened  the  way  for  us  to  labor  in  the  gospel  and  in 
jmiyer,  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  true  and  ajn-ight  Friends  in  at- 
tendance :  and  those  of  this  description  we  felt  very  much  for,  be- 
lieving that  there  are  hidden  sins  carried  on  among  some  of  our 
members  in  this  place. 

The  19th.  We  this  day  attended  New  Garden  Monthly  Meeting, 
wherein  we  found  some  intelligent,  worthy  and  experienced  Friends, 
among  whom  we  were  comforted  and  edified  under  the  flow  of  the 
gospel  stream  poured  down  upon  us,  uniting  us  in  the  unity  of  the 
spirit,  in  the  bond  of  peace  ;  and  after  meeting,  a  number  of 
Friends  took  dinner  with  us  at  a  Friend's  house,  and  in  this  oppor- 
tunity God  was  with  us  through  the  spirit,  and  brought  us  to  feel 
near  and  dear  one  to  another,  in  that  love  which  is  the  source  of 
true  consolation. 

In  passing  through  these  meetings  of  Friends  in  the  neighbor- 
liood  of  Salem,  we  were  clothed  upon  with  weeping,  mourning  and 
lamentation,  under  the  conviction  that  "the  infinite  works  of 
darkness"  were  "hidden"  and  carried  on  among  some  of  our 
members  in  these  parts,  to  the  obstruction  of  the  life  and  i)ower  of 
pure  religion;  and  in  consequence  of  the  want  of  true  religious  depth 
among  Friends  in  this  part  of  the  vineyard,  these  things  are  not 
discovered  by  them,  but  tale  bearing  and  detraction  appeared  to 
be  carried  on  in  many  instances  to  a  sorrowful  extent.  May  the 
Lord  shine  upon  this  part  of  our  society,  and  bring  about  in  His 
own  way  a  reformation  among  them. 

The  20th.  We,  this  morning,  with  sorrowing  hearts,  left  Salem, 
being  impressed  with  a  sense  of  the  low  state  of  pure  religion 
among  Friends  in  these  parts,  and  traveled  this  day  to  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Walnut  Creek,  where,  on  the  next  day,  we  held  a  meet- 
ing for  Friends  and  others,  which  was  so  largely  attended  that  the 
meeting-house  was  much  crowded  and  a  number  of  peo])le  in 
the  yard,  and  the  Lord's  power  was  over  this  congregation  to  com- 
fort and  edification. 

The  22d.     Being  First-day  and  a  season  long  to  be  remembered 


38f)  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  1862 

bv  many.  We  this  morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at 
IMeasant  Plain,  general  notice  being  given  of  our  attendance,  so 
that  the  meeting  was  very  large,  and  abundantly  owned  b}'  the 
Great  Head  of  the  Church,  so  that  he,  through  tiie  spirit,  was  one 
in  our  midst,  and  his  name  was  exalted  over  all,  to  the  glory  thereof. 

In  the  evening  we  held  a  public  meeting  at  Fairfield,  in  the 
Methodist  meeting-house.  It  was  believed  that  upward  of  a 
thousand  people  were  in  attendance,  being  a  very  nice  congrega- 
tion. People  of  all  classes  in  the  town  were  present,  upon  whom 
the  canopy  of  Heaven  appeared  to  be  opened,  so  that  stillness, 
quietness  and  attention  prevailed  throughout  this  meeting,  which 
was  held  near  two  hours,  during  which  time  the  great  doctrine  of 
Christian  redemption  Avas  opened  and  illustrated,  to  comfort  and 
edification.    Praised  forever  by  the  great  and  holy  name! 

The  23d.  We  this  afternoon  held  a  meeting  at  Eichland,  for 
Friends  and  others,  which  was  a  large,  crowded  meeting,  there  be- 
ing many  in  attendance  who  had  lived  a  loose  and  wicked  life,  who 
were  very  solemnly  warned,  in  the  love  of  the  gospel,  betimes  to 
flee  from"  the  Avrath  to  come  and  lay  hold  on  the  refuge  of  salva- 
tion, the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  seek  through  him  the  redemption 
of  their  souls  ;  and  the  upright  were  encouraged  in  the  way  of  a 
holy  life.  Some  were  tendered  and  brought  under  conviction. 
May  the  Lord  have  mercy  on  them! 

The  l-ith.  We  this  morning  went  to  Brighton,  where  we  had 
proposed  holding  a  meeting  for  divine  worship  in  the  Methodist 
meeting-house,  but  in  landing  there  we  found,  to  our  sorrow,  that 
the  proper  notice  had  not  been  given  ;  and  cases  of  this  nature  we 
often  met  with.  In  many  instances  Fiiends  who  take  the  charge 
of  appointing  meetings  are,  in  some  instances,  so  lukewarm  that 
they  do  not  consistently  interest  themselves  to  get  the  people  out, 
which  neglect  causes  mourning  to  the  ministers  of  the  gospel  who 
desire  to  see  them,  and  there  is  no  small  responsibility  attached  to 
such  neglect.  However,  in  this  case  we  got  a  few  together — being 
mostly  children — for  whom  we  had  some  advice,  which  was  well 
received. 

The  25th.  When  we  awoke  and  arose  this  morning  there  was 
heavy  rain,  lightning  and  thunder  in  operation,  and  our  health  be- 
ing poor,  so  that  we  needed  some  rest,  therefore  we  concluded  to 
spend  this  day  at  a  kind  Friend's  house,  in  reading,  writing  and 
meditation;  and  the  Lord,  through  the.spirit,  was  mercifully  with  us 
this  day,  and  granted  us  the  sweetness  of  that  consolation  which 
this  world  can  neither  give  nor  take  away.  Blessed  forever  be  His 
holy  name! 

The  2Gth.  The  weather  this  morning  being  pleasant  and  de- 
lightful, we  therefore  set  out  for  Gilead,  and  were  favored  to  land 
there  in  the  evening,  where,  on  the  next  day,  we  held  a  jmblic 
meeting  for  Friends  and  others,  which  was  well  attended,  wherein 


1862  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AHNETT.  387 

the  baptizing  power  of  truth  went  forth  to  the  humility  of  many 
minds,  uniting  in  the  unity  of  the  Spirit  in  the  bond  of  peace ; 
and  in  the  afternoon  we  traveled  to  the  neighborhood  of  Si)ring 
Creek,  where,  on  the  38th,  we  spent  in  visiting  some  families  of 
Friends,  rather  in  a  social  way. 

The  29th.  Being  First-day,  and  a  season  of  much  favor,  we  this 
morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at  Spring  Creek,  where 
we  were  enabled  to  labor  in  the  authority  of  the  truth,  to  the  edi- 
fication of  many  minds;  and  in  the  afternoon  we  held  a  pulilic 
meeting  in  Oskaloosa,  in  the  Baptist  meeting-house.  In  this  meet- 
ing, when  I  arose  to  labor,  I  felt  that  there  was  some  oj)i)osition  to 
my  testimony,  but  by  keeping  the  eye  single  to  the  Great  Head  of 
the  Church,  truth  arose  higher  and  higher,  till  it  gained  the  vic- 
tory and  reigned  over  all,  to  the  glory  of  God,  to  the  peace  of  our 
minds  and  to  the  edification  of  the  people. 

The  30th.  This  was  a  very  solemn  and  impressive  day  with  me, 
being  my  birthday,  seventy-one  years  having  passed  over  my  head  since 
I  came  into  this  world.  I  this  morning  retired  into  a  solitary  place, 
and  kneeling  down,  poured  out  my  soul  in  prayer  and  supplication 
to  God,  who  has  taken  care  of  me  all  my  life  long;  I  supplicated 
for  the  daily  renewal  of  his  mercy  and  protection  through  all  my 
future  life  in  this  world,  that  I  may  be  preserved  on  every  hand,  to 
the  glory  of  his  name,  so  as  to  be  enabled  of  him  to  fight  a  good 
fight,  to  keep  the  faith,  and  to  finish  my  course  with  joy,  so  as 
finally  to  be  accounted  worthy  to  receive  the  crown  immortal  which 
fadeth  not  away. 

We  this  day  held  a  public  meeting  for  Friends  and  others,  at 
Center  Grove,  where  we  met  an  intelligent  and  interesting  concire- 
gation,  many  of  whom  were  young  men  and  women,  and  also  chil- 
dren, and  to  this  company  the  effect  of  sin  was  pointed  out,  and 
the  way  to  be  delivered  therefrom  was  opened  and  illustrated  in  the 
authority  of  the  glorious  and  everlasting  truth,  under  the  power  of 
which  many  minds  were  much  humbled  and  edified.  In  the  after- 
noon we  visited  in  Christian  love  a  few  families  of  Friends,  to  mu- 
tual satisfaction  and  benefit,  the  baptizing  power  of  truth  being 
Avith  us,  uniting  in  the  sweetness  of  gospel  love,  and  in  tender  and 
affectionate  Christian  sympathy.  Praised  forever  be  the  name  of 
him  who  is  from  everlasting  to  everlasting,  God  over  all,  and  who 
only  is  worthy  of  all  the  praise  both  now  and  forevermore! 

Seventh  month  1st,  We  this  day  traveled  about  twelve  miles  to 
the  neighborhood  of  Sharon,  where,  on  the  next  day,  we  held  a 
meeting  for  Friends  and  others.  To  this  meeting  there  was  a  gen- 
eral turn-out  of  all  classes  of  people  in  the  settlement,  and  in  being 
gathered  in  stillness  and  quietness, way  opened  in  the  truth  to  point 
out  the  awful  consequence  of  sowing  to  the  flesh,  and  also  the 
blessed  and  happy  consequence  of  sowing  to  the  s]urit.  The  people 
were  serious,  and  the  meeting  ended  to  good  satisfaction. 


388  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  ISB? 

The  ;3rd.  We  this  day  held  two  public  meetings  for  Friends  and 
others,  one  in  the  morning  at  Chester,  and  the  other  in  the  after- 
noon at  Lynn  Grove.  In  these  meetings  we  passed  through  much 
exercise  and  labor  in  the  love  of  the  gospel.  This  was  a  favored 
day  with  us;  truth  gained  the  ascendency  over  the  mmds  of  the 
people,  the  sincere  were  encouraged,  and  sinners  warned  and  called 
to  repentance. 

The  4th.  We  found  it  to  be  our  place  this  day  to  rest  quietly  at  a 
kind  friend's  house,  the  minds  of  the  people  being  so  agitated  in  cele- 
brating the  American  Independence,  so  called,  that  it  appeared  to  be 
no  time  to  appoint  a  meetingfor  divine  worship.  We  this  day  renew- 
edly  moui-ned  over  the  state  of  our  beloved  country;  the  calamity 
thereof  still  continues,  and  the  war  is  going  on  in  some  of  the  slave 
States,  with  all  its  horrors  and  dreadful  consequences,  in  which 
many  are  still  falling  in  battle  on  both  sides.  Yery  earnest  is  our 
prayer  to  God  on  behalf  of  this  country,  that  he  in  his  own  time 
may  again  restore  tranquility  to  the  people  thereof.  May  he  in  his 
mercy  preserve  us  through  all  to  the  end,  to  the  glory  of  his  name, 
for  we  are  of  his  poorest  servants. 

The  5th.  We  went  this  day  to  Friends'  settlement  at  Center, 
and  the  next  day  being  First-day,  we  attended  their  meeting,  notice 
being  given.  It  was  a  full  meeting,  but  not  very  well  settled,  and 
some  did  not  observe  good  behavior:  but  the  warning  power  of  truth 
went  forth  to  the  conviction  of  many  minds.  In  the  afternoon  we 
held  a  very  interesting  meeting  in  Xewton,  in  the  court-house, 
which  was  well  attended  by  people  of  various  persuasions,  among 
whom  the  great  doctrine  of  Christian  redemption  was  preached  in  the 
authority  of  the  glorious  and  everlasting  truth. 

The  7th.  We  this  day  held  a  meeting  for  Friends  and  others, 
at  Pleasant  View;  in  the" fore  part  thereof  we  were  much  tried,  the 
people  coming  in  rather  in  a  careless  manner,  not  looking  to  the 
right  source  for  religious  instruction;  we  secretly  supplicated  God 
to  have  mercy  upon  them.  At  length  truth  arose  in  a  good  degree, 
and  enabled  us  to  hold  forth  the  glad  tidings  of  the  gospel,  to  the 
encouragement  of  the  upright,  and  to  the  warning  and  calling  of 
sinners  to  repentance,  during  their  day  of  saving  and  merciful  vis- 
itation. 

The  8th.  This  was  a  day  of  much  deep  exercise  with  us;  we 
secretly  supplicated  God  for  his  mercy  and  protection  on  every 
hand.  ^  We  this  morning  held  a  public  meeting  at  Sugar  Creek, 
where  we  were  favored  with  the  spirit  of  prayer  and  gospel  ministry, 
to  good  satisfaction;  and  in  the  evening  at  8  o'clock  we  held  a  large 
and  favored  meeting  in  Grinnell.  in  the  Congregational  nieeting- 
house;  the  people  appeared  to  come  together  with  a  desire  to  be 
benefited,  so  that  the  Lord  blessed  us  with  his  good  presence. 

The  9th.  We  this  day  set  out  for  a  small  settlement  of  Friends 
by  the  name  of  Xewhope,  where  we  arrived  in  time  to  have  them 


1862  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNKTT.  380 

iuu]  their  neighbors  together  on  the  11th,  with  wliom,  through  di- 
vine mercy,  we  had  a  good  refreshing  season;  and  after  this  meeting 
we  this  day  traveled  about  twenty  miles  to  the  neighborhood  of 
Middle  River,  where,  on  the  next  day,  we  rested  at  a  kind  friend's 
liouse.  Our  health  being  poor,  and  the  weather  warm,  we  therefore 
occasionally  need  some  rest,  in  the  prosecution  of  this  might  dedi- 
cation. 

The  loth,  being  First-day,  and  a  season  of  deep  interest  Avith  us. 
^\v  this  day  attended  Friends'  meeting  of  Middle  Iviver,  and  notice 
being  spread  of  our  attendance,  it  was  a  large  meeting,  wherein  the 
testimony  of  the  gospel  went  forth,  to  the  conviction  and  edification 
of  many  minds;  and  in  the  afternoon  we  held  a  meeting  at  Palm3'ra, 
in  the  Methodist  meeting-house,  where  we  met  a  very  large  congre- 
gation, the  house  being  crowded,  and  some  hundreds  of  people  being 
in  the  j-ard  thereof;  and  among  this  promiscuous  congregation  the 
gospel  was  preached  with  power. 

The  14th.  AYc  this  morning  held  a  meeting  for  Friends  and 
others  at  Goshen,  and  a  smiilar  one  in  the  afternoon  at  South  River. 
Both  these  meetings  were  large,  many  being  in  attendance  who 
were  desirous  of  being  instructed  in  the  way  of  life  and  salvation; 
and  this  desire  was  mercifully  answered  in  the  love  of  truth,  for  the 
Lord  through  the  spirit  was  with  us  this  day,  and  enabled  us 
to  preach  the  gospel  in  the  demonstration  of  the  spirit  and  with 
power.  The  faithful  were  much  encouraged  to  hold  on  their  way 
to  the  end,  and  the  lukewarm  and  sinners  were  invited  to  return, 
repent  betimes,  so  as  to  live  forever  in  peace  and  happiness. 

The  15th.  We  set  out  this  morning,  and  traveled  (the  Avay  we 
went,)  upward  of  fifty  miles  to  Rich  Square,  where,  on  the  next 
day,  we  held  a  public  meeting  for  Friends  and  others,  which  was 
well  attended  by  people  of  various  opinions  in  respect  to  religion, 
among  whom  various  points  of  Christian  doctrine  was  opened  and 
illustrated,  including  that  of  the  resurrection  of  the  body,  and  the 
final  day  of  judgment,  according  to  the  Scriptures.  And  while  in 
this  neighborhood  we  were  much  grieved  to  meet  with  some  of 
our  members  who  denied  the  doctrine  of  the  general  resurrection 
of  the  dead  and  the  day  of  judgment  at  the  end  of  this  world, 
iipon  whom  we  bestowed  much  labor  and  left  them  with  sorrow. 

The  17th.  This  was  a  day  of  deep  trial  and  bai)tism  to  us.  so 
that  we  cried  in  si)irit,  in  this  language  :  "He  hath  led"  and 
•'brought"  us  "into  darkness,  but  not  into  light;"  He  "hath 
turned  aside"  our  "ways  and  pulled"  us  "in  pieces;  He  hath 
made  "us  "desolate."  "We  are  troubled  on  every  side,  yet  not 
distressed  ;  we  are  perplexed,  but  not  in  despair  ;  persecuted,  but 
not  forsaken  ;  cast  down,  but  not  destroyed  ;  always  bearing  about 
in  the  body  the  dying  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  that  the  life  also  of  Jesus 
might  be  made  manifest  in  our  body  ;  for  we  which  live  arc  always 
delivered  unto  death  for  Jesus  sake,  that  the  life  also  of  Jesus 
might  be  made  manifest  in  our  mortal  flesh." 


39Q  .lOUJlXAL    OF   THOMAS    AHNETT.  1862 

0,  Lord,  everlasting  God,  abundantly  daily  have  mercy  upon  us. 
We  are  among  thy  poorest  servants.  We  feel  that  none  are  more 
poor  than  we  are.  We  go  forth  in  this  laud,  laboring  and  are  heavy 
laden.  We  are  under  deej)  exercises  of  mind,  and  much  mourning 
in  spirit,  in  consideration  of  the  low  state  of  vital  religion,  in  many 
instances,  among  our  members  in  this  land.  0,  preserve  and  pro- 
tect us,  we  beseech  thee,  in  the  dedication  of  this  mission  in  this 
newly  settled  country,  that  we  may  pass  through  it  to  the  glory 
of  thy  name,  and  be  permitted  through  thy  mercy,  consistent  with 
thy  will,  to  return  home  at  the  right  time,  with  true  peace  of  mind. 
AVe  have  none  to  depend  on  and  look  to  for  wisdom,  strength  and 
utterance,  in  carrying  out  this  concern,  but  to  thee,  0,  God  ;  we 
therefore,  thy  poorest  servants,  pray  thee  to  remember  us  in  this 
land,  and  open  the  way  for  us  according  to  thy  holy  will.     Amen. 

The  18th.  Way  opened  this  morning  for  us  to  leave  this  neigh- 
borhood ;  we  therefore  set  out  for  the  city  of  Des  Moines,  the  capi- 
tal of  the  State  of  Iowa,  and  on  this  and  the  next  day  we  traveled 
to  within  five  miles  of  that  city,  where,  on  the  20th,  being  First- 
day,  we  held  a  public  meeting  in  the  morning  in  a  school-house,  at 
Elm  grove,  a  place  where  Friends  never  before  held  a  meeting. 
This  meeting  was  well  attended  and  orderly  conducted,  and  the 
Lord,  in  his  mercy,  gave  us  a  baptizing  testimony  for  the  people, 
who  seemed  much  humbled  in  spirit  and  thankful  for  our  visit.  In 
the  afternoon,  at  four  o'clock,  we  held  a  public  meeting  in  the  city 
of  Des  Moines,  in  the  Methodist  meeting-house,  where  we  had  in 
attendance  several  hundred  people  of  the  first  character  in  the 
city  in  this  congregation.  The  Great  Head  of  the  Church,  through 
the  spirit,  presided,  under  whose  gracious  power  all  was  hushed 
down  into  profound  stillness  and  silence  and  way  opened  for  the 
gospel  to  be  preached,  in  the  demonstration  of  the  spirit  and  with 
power,  to  the  humility  and  edification  of  this  deeply  interesting 
company.     Praised  forever  be  the  everlasting  God! 

The  21st.  We  this  day  traveled  about  forty-five  miles,  to  the 
neighborhood  of  Friends  of  Xorth  Branch,  where,  on  the  next 
morning  at  nine  o'clock,  we  held  a  public  meeting,  and  in  the  after- 
noon at  four  o'clock  we  held  a  similar  one  at  Bear  Creek,  being  eight 
miles  distant.  In  both  these  meetings  many  people  were  in  attend- 
ance, unto  wlioni  tlie  Lord  opened  tlie  way  for  us  to  labor  in  the 
gospel  to  the  benefit  and  edification  of  many  minds.  The  up- 
right were  encouraged  to  hold  on  their  way,  and  sinners  were 
warned  and  called  to  repentance  and  amendment  of  life. 

The  23d.  We  set  out  this  morning  and  traveled  about  twenty- 
five  miles,  to  the  neighborhood  of  Friends  of  Spring  Valley,  where, 
in  the  afternoon  at  four  o'clock,  we  held  a  public  meeting  in  u 
large  school-house  ;  and  this  was  a  large  and  interesting  meeting, 
people  of  various  i)ersuasions  l^eing  assembled,  among  whom  the 
gospel  of  life  and  salvation  went  forth,  to  the  conviction  and  edi- 
fication of  many  minds.      Praised  forever  be  the  Lord! 


18(!2  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARxXI:TT.  ;5!)1 

The  24th.  We  this  morning  traveled  ubout  fifteen  miles  to  Sum- 
mit Grove,  where  we  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends,  as  it  came  'n 
coarse,  and  notice  being  given  of  our  attendance,  we  therefore  met 
a  full  meeting,  wherein  we  had  much  close  and  honest  labor,  tend- 
ing to  stir  up  Friends  to  more  diligence  in  respect  to  the  great  duty 
of  family  and  public  worship  ;  and  this  duty  is  much  neglected  by 
many  of  our  members  in  tliis  land,  as  well  as  in  many  other  parts 
of  our  society,  whicli  causes  grief  and  mucii  lamentation  to  our 
minds. 

The  "-iSth,  We  this  morning  set  out  for  the  town  of  Winterset, 
wliere  we  arrived  in  time  to  hold  a  meeting  in  the  evening  in  the 
Baptist  meeting-house  :  and  in  assembling  for  the  purpose  of  di- 
vine worship,  it  soon  opened  in  our  minds  that  many  had  come 
together  with  a  sincere  desire  to  be  instructed  in  the  way  of  life 
and  salvation,  and  in  the  authority  of  truth  this  desire  was  an- 
swered, for  which  the  people  appeared  to  be  very  thankful. 

The  26th.  We  this  day  traveled  to  Indianola,  where,  on  the 
next  day,  being  First  day,  we  attended,  in  the  morning.  Friends' 
meeting,  and  through  divine  grace  we  found  some  good  service  ; 
and  in  tlic  afternoon  at  four  o'clock  we  held  a  large  and  open  meet- 
ing in  the  Methodist  chapel.  Tlie  people  came  together,  generally, 
hungering  and  thirsting  after  the  water  of  eternal  life  and  the 
bread  of  salvation  :  and  the  Lord  remembered  them,  and  had 
mercy  on  them,  in  granting  us  a  good,  refreshing  testimony  to  de- 
liver among  them.     Praised  forever  be  His  name  I 

The  28th.  We  this  day  traveled  upward  of  fifteen  miles,  to  the 
settlement  of  Friends  of  Hickory  Grove,  where  in  the  evening  we 
held  a  public  meeting,  and  the  weather  being  very  warm  and  more 
people  being  gathered  than  Friends'  meeting-room  could  hold,  we 
therefore  held  this  meeting  out  in  the  open -air,  under  some  shade 
trees,  and  tlirough  divine  mercy  we  were  favored  with  a  precious 
testimony  to  deliver  to  the  peoj)le,  who  were  thankful  for  this 
favor.  * 

The  29th.  We,  througii  the  course  of  this  and  the  two  follow- 
ing days,  traveled  to  the  neighborhood  of  Friends  of  Sugar  Creek, 
where  we  had  been  before,  and  here  we  had  a  little  rest,  which 
seemed  necessary,  our  health  being  poor  and  we  being  much  fa- 
tigued in  traveling  and  in  holding  public  meetings. 

Eighth  mo.  1st.  We  spent  this  day  with  feelings  of  deep  humil- 
ity at  a  kind  friend's  house,  in  reading,  writing,  and  meditation. 
AVe  were  much  humbled  in  recounting  the  mercy  of  God  bestowed 
upon  us,  his  very  poor  servants,  not  only  in  the  prosecution  of 
this  journey,  but  during  all  our  life  long.  May  we  so  walk  and 
conduct  ourselves  before  him,  as  to  be  accounted  worthy  to  enjoy 
him  in  time  and  in  eternity. 

The  2nd.  We  set  out  this  moaning  for  Legrand,  where  we 
arrived  in  the  evening,  after  traveling  througii  rain  ;  and  the  next 


302  JOTRNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKXETT.  J8B2 

day,  being  First-day,  Ave  attended  Friends'  meeting  there  in  the 
morning,  and  in  the  afternoon  we  held  a  public  meeting  in  the  vil- 
lage, in  a  public  meeting-house,  which  stands  open  to  all  religious 
denominations.  Both  these  meetings  were  well  attended  and  much 
favored  with  counsel  and  doctrine,  to  the  edification  of  Friends 
and  others. 

The  4th.  We  this  morning  set  out  for  Hartland,  where  we  ar- 
rived in  time  to  hold  a  meeting  for  Friends  and  others  on  the 
next  morning,  and  in  the  evening  of  the  same  day  we  also  held  a 
public  meeting  at  Marietta,  in  a  large  school-house.  These  meet- 
ings were  well  attended  by  people  of  various  religious  i)ersuasions, 
among  whom  we  were  enabled  to  declare  the  glad  tidings  of  the 
gospel,  in  the  demonstration  of  the  spirit  and  with  power,  to  good 
satisfaction. 

The  Gth.  We  this  morning  traveled  about  ten  miles  to  the  meet- 
ing of  Friends  of  Bangor,  which,  in  attending,  as  it  came  in  course, 
we  found  a  large  and  interesting  meeting,  to  which  many  valuable 
and  worthy  Friends  belong,  among  whom  we  were  baptized  into 
deep  feeling,  and  way  opened  for  us  to  labor  among  them  to  edi- 
fication; truth  reigned  overall,  and  the  meeting  closed  with  thanks- 
giving and  praise  to  the  everlasting  God. 

The  7th.  This  was  a  day  of  deep  exercise  and  baptism  with  us. 
We  this  morning  held  a  meeting  at  Highland,  for  Friends  and 
others,  which  was  a  large  and  crowded  meeting,  and  much  owned 
by  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church,  for  the  word  of  the  gospel  was 
delivered  m  a  mannei'  as  to  seal  conviction  on  many  minds.  In 
the  evening  we  held  a  meeting  at  Xew  Providence,  in  which,  after 
sitting  sometime  in  silence,  way  opened  for  us  to  labor  to  good  sat- 
isfaction.    Praised  be  the  Lord  I 

■  The  Sth.  We  this  dtiy  traveled  to  the  neighborhood  of  Rocksyl- 
vania,  nnd  the  next  day  we  spent  at  a  kind  friend's  house  in  quiet- 
ness and  retirement  of  spirit,  feeling  ourselves  to  be  the  poorest 
among  the  Lord's  servants.  It  being  a  low  time  with  us,  we  felt 
poor  and  needy,  and  much  discouraged  and  cast  down,  our  health 
being  poor:  but  in  spirit  we  called  upon  the  name  of  the  everlasting  ' 
God  for  help,  support,  and  protection,  in  the  ])rosecution  of  this 
weighty  and  very  important  engagement. 

The  10th.  Being  First-day,  and  a  time  long  to  be  remembered 
by  many.  We  this  morning  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  in 
Ilocksylvania,  and  many  coming  in  who  were  friendly  people,  and 
desirous  to  be  instructed  in  the  truth,  way  therefore  opened  for  us  to 
})reach  the  gospel  to  comfort  and  edilication;  and  in  the  evening,  at  8 
o'clock,  we  iield  a  deeply  interesting  meeting  at  Iowa  Falls,  in  tiie 
J*resbyterian  nieotiug-house,  which  was  largely  attended  by  people  of 
different  religious  jjcrsuasions,  among  whom  the  glad  tidings  of  the 
gospel  were  powortiiliy  proclaimed,  to  the  conviction  and  edification 
of  manv  minds. 


1862  JOUliXAL   01''   THOMAS    AKXKTT.  393 

Tlic  11th  and  12th  we  spent  in  traveling  from  place  to  place,  in 
visiting  some  families  of  Friends,  rather  in  a  social  wa}^,  being  care- 
ful, however,  to  direct  our  conversation  aright,  so  as  to  show  the 
^salvation  of  the  Lord;  and  this  we  believe  to  be  the  dut_y  of  the 
ministers  of  the  gospel,  to  be  watchful  even  in  ordinary  conversa- 
tion, speaking  of  things  which  tend  to  edification. 

The  13th.  We  this  day  held  a  public  meeting  at  Chester,  which 
Avas  well  attended  by  Friends  and  others  ;  in  the  fore  part  of  which 
Avo  were  cast  down  in  spirit,  under  deep  exercise,  but  being  patient, 
and  keeping  the  eye  single  to  the  truth,  at  length  the  power  of  God 
nrose,  and  enabled  us  to  preach  the  gos2)el  in  that  authority  which 
humbled  this  company  as  in  dust  and  ashes,  so  that  we  hope  some 
little  good  may  result  from  this  heavenly  visitation. 

The  14th.  We  this  day  attended  the  meeting  of  Friends  at 
Honey  Creek,  and  notice  thereof  having  been  given,  it  was  well 
attended  by  Friends  and  others  ;  but  the  fore  part  thereof  was  much 
disturbed  and  injured  by  a  man  coming  in  and  undertaking  to  preach 
the  gospel,  without  any  rightful  authority,  he  being  a  member  of 
another  religious  society;  but  when  he  took  his  seat  and  became 
still,  truth  in  a  good  degree  arose  in  dominion,  so  that  we  had  a 
pretty  good  meeting.     Praised  be  the  Lord  I 

While  engaged  in  the  prosecution  of  a  gospel  mission  to  Friends 
and  others  in  tJiis  land,  deep  are  our  exercises  on  account  of  the 
awful  increased  calamity  upon  our  beloved  country.  The  Avar  is 
still  raging  with  increased  horrors  and  distresses,  so  that  the  mantle 
of  sorrow,  mourning  and  lamentation  is  spread  over  many  very  sor- 
rowful hearts  in  this  great  republic,  and  in  our  public  labors  in  relig- 
ious meetings  we  Avere  often  called  upon  to  bring  these  things  to  view, 
directing  the  attention  of  the  people  to  God  for  protection,  and  often- 
times Ave  beheld  them  melted  down  in  spirit,  pouring  forth  their  tears; ' 
and  also,  Ave  often  in  private  and  in  public  were  moved  to  pour  forth 
our  prayers  and  supplications  to  (iiod  on  behalf  of  our  beloved 
country. 

Tlie  loth.  We  this  afternoon  attended  the  Preparative  Meeting 
of  Ministers  and  Elders  at  Bangor,  where,  on  the  next  day,  we 
attended  the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends,  Avhich  was  large,  and 
truth  arising  for  us  in  this  meeeting,  and  setting  us  at  liberty  in 
the  spirit  of  the  gospel,  so  tliat  we  had  a  heavenly  and  precious  op- 
portunity with  Friends,  being  united  in  spirit,  in  the  unity  of  the 
spirit,  in  the  bond  of  peace.  Friends  here  Avere  very  kind  and 
affectionate  toward  us. 

The  17th.  Being  First-day,  and  a  season  of  religious  visitation  to 
many,  we  this  day  held  a  public  meeting  in  Marshalltown,  in  a 
large  room  in  the  court-house,  Avhich  Avas  a  very  large  meeting,  the 
room  being  filled  Avith  the  first  cliaracters  in  the  town.  Over  this 
meeting  Avas  spread  the  canopy  of  the  love  of  God,  so  that  all  Avere 
still  and  quiet;  and  under  the  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit  many 


394  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKXETT.  IS-K 

points  of  the  great  doctrine  of  Christian  redemption  were  opened 
and  illustrated,  to  the  admiration,  humility,  and  edification  of  many 
minds. 

After  this,  we  also  again  returned  to  the  settlement  of  Friends  of 
Sugar  Creek,  where  there  is  a  precious  flock  of  sincere-hearted 
Friends,  with  whom  we  attended  meetings  three  times,  in  which  we 
were  mutually  edified.  Our  healtli  about  this  time  was  poor,  hav- 
ing taken  deep  colds  through  exposure  of  traveling  ;  we,  however, 
on  the  21st,  set  out  to  attend  the  service  of  Pleasant  Plain  Quar- 
terly Meeting,  to  be  held  at  Spring  Creek,  which  commenced  on  the 
23nd  and  continued  its  session  till  the  evening  of  the  24th,  being 
First-day,  and  then  ending  witli  a  meeting  for  the  youth  and  others. 
Through  the  course  of  this  meeting,  together  with  other  Friends 
from  various  parts,  engaged  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  we  found 
much  good  service  for  the  Lord.  Friends  were  glad  to  see  us 
among  them,  with  whom  we  were  mutually  refreshed  with  several 
baptizing  gospel  showers,  so  that  it  ajDpeurcd  that  every  situation 
and  condition  in  this  meeting  were  spoken  to  and  visited  in  a  degree 
of  that  pure  love  which  breathes  "glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  and 
on  earth,  peace,  good  will  toward  men."  All  the  praise  is  alone  due 
to  him  who  is  worthy  to  rule  and  govern  throughout  the  universe. 

When  this  Quarterly  closed  its  session,  we  felt  a  quiet  retreat 
granted  us  through  the  spirit  of  God  from  any  Further  service  in 
Iowa,  under  this  dedication;  we  therefore  thankfully  turned  our 
course  toward  Burlington,  where  we  were  enabled  to  land  in  time 
to  go  on  the  railroad  in  the  evening  of  the  2Ttli  for  Lafayette,  where 
we  landed  on  the  next  day  about  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  very 
much  fatigued,  our  health  still  continuing  to  be  poor;  and  on  the 
next  day  after  landing  we  went  to  a  kind  friend's  house  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Greenfield,  for  the  purpose  of  rest  and  quiet  retirement. 

The  31st,  being  First-day,  and  a  season  long  to  be  remembered  by 
many  for  good.  We  this  day  held  a  public  luminous  meeting  in 
the  city  of  Lafayette,  in  the  Second  Presbyterian  meeting-house. 
This  meeting  was  largely  attended  by  people  of  the  first  character 
in  the  city,  amounting  to  several  hundreds  in  attendance,  and  there 
were  those  present  from  most  of  the  churches  in  the  city.  This 
was  a  very' open  and  heavenly  meeting.  God,  through  the  spirit,  was 
in  our  midst  and  humbled  all  down  as  in  dust  and  ashes,  and  we 
were  wonderfully  favored  in  gospel  ministry  and  in  prayer.  Praiscii 
forever  be  his  holy  name  I 

After  this,  for  awhile,  we  were  brought  very  low  in  soul,  spirit 
and  body,  our  health  being  very  poor,  feeling  much  fatigued  and 
worn  out  under  the  pressure  of  the  exercises  and  manner  of  travel- 
ing through  which  we  had  passed  ;  we  knew,  however,  that  we  wej'e 
serving  a  good  Master,  and  we  felt  that  the  eternal  God  was  our 
refuge,  and  underneath  were  the  everlasting  arms ;  he  well  knew 
the  integrity  and  the  sincerity  of  our  hearts,  and   in  his  sight  we 


1802  JOUKNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNTETT.  395 

acknowledged  our  infirmity  and  weakness,  knowing  that  we  were 
poor,  unprofitable  servants,  and  had  done,  in  tliis  dedication,  "that 
which  was  our  duty  to  do;"  and  in  the  obetlience  of  faitli,  with 
prayer  and  supplication,  we  called  upon  his  name,  mercifully  to 
point  out  to  us  the  path  which  we  should  now  pursue,  having  no 
will  of  our  own,  but  resigning  our  all  to  him  ;  and  at  length  he 
arose  for  us  and  granted  us  a  quiet  retreat  from  this  field  of  labor. 
We  therefore  made  suitable  preparation  for  our  return  home,  aiul 
went  on  railroad  conveyance  at  Lafayette  for  our  habitation,  with 
feelings  of  humility  and  gratitude,  where  we  arrived  on  the  3rd  of 
tiie  9th  month,  with  truly  tliankful  and  peaceful  minds.  On  our 
return,  Friends  and  others  appeared  to  be  very  glad  again  to  see  us; 
and  it  was  with  feelings  of  Christian  love  to  them  that  we  were  en- 
abled to  reciprocate  our  tender  regard  toward  them  for  the  respect 
and  affection  which  they  manifested  toward  us  ;  and  with  prayer 
and  supplication  to  God  in  lauding  again  in  our  own  house,  we 
returned  to  him  thanksgiving  and  praise,  not  only  for  the  contin- 
uance of  his  mercy  and  protection  toward  us  through  this  dedica- 
tion, but  also  for  permitting  our  safe  return  to  our  quiet  and  peace- 
ful habitation. 

In  the  prosecution  of  this  journey  in  Iowa,  Friends  were  very 
kind  to  us  in  conveying  us  about  from  place  to  place.  We  traveled 
in  various  kinds  of  vehicles  ;  sometimes  pretty  good  carriages,  but 
generally  in  open  spring  wagons,  and  frequently  in  common  rough 
road  wagons,  so  that  together  with  the  entertainment  generally  re- 
ceived at  Friends'  houses — they  in  many  instances  living  in  small 
houses  with  but  one  room — we  were  so  fatigued  with  traveling,  pass- 
ing under  deep  exercises  of  mind,  we  obtained  oftentimes  but  little 
rest  day  or  night,  so  that  this  was  a  very  laborious  field  of  labor  and 
exercise  to  us.  In  the  performance  of  this  journey  we  traveled  by 
railroad  way  and  other  conveyances  about  the  distance  of  twenty- 
five  hundred  miles,  and  attended,  while  in  Iowa,  including  some 
school  and  families  opportunities  wliere  members  were  collected, 
about  seventy-five  meetings,  besides  those  we  attended  on  the  way 
going  and  returning.  May  God  in  his  mercy  and  providence  bless 
this  dedication! 

We  found,  while  traveling  in  Iowa,  many  dear  friends  who  love  the 
truth,  who,  being  intelligent  and  well  educated,  together  with  much 
religious  experience,  they  are  calculated  for  mucli  usefulness  in  the 
church;  while,  on  the  other  hand,  we  met  with  those  who  were  luke- 
warm, and  who  were  neither  much  educated  nor  instructed  in  faith 
and  doctrine  ;  but,  upon  the  whole,  we  found  a  very  interesting  flock 
among  Friends  in  this  land,  who  have  emigrated  and  settled  there 
from  the  various  parts  of  our  Society,  very  much  throughout  the 
world.  . 

The  face  of  the  country  in  Iowa  is  moderately  uneven,  without 
any  mountains  or  high  hills.    The  margins  of  the  rivers  and  (Teeks,. 


396  JOURNAL    OF    THOMAS    ARNETT.  IH62 

extending  back  from  one  to  ten  miles,  are  generally  covered  with 
timber,  while  be3'ond  this  the  country  is  un  open  prairie  without 
trees.  By  the  frequent  alternations  of  these  two  descriptions  of 
land  the  country  is  greatly  diversified,  and  it  is  believed  that  the 
prairies  covered  nearly  three-fourths  of  the  surface  of  the  State, 
and  although  they  are  destitute  of  trees,  they  present  a  varied  asi)ect; 
some  have  a  level,  and  others  a  rolling  surface  ;  some  are  covered 
with  a  rich  coat  of  grass,  well  suited  for  grazing  ;  in  others,  this  is 
interspersed  with  hazel  thickets  and  sassafras  shrubs,  and  in  the 
summer  season  of  the  year  superbly  decorated  with  flowers  of 
various  kinds,  so  that  in  passing  through  these  great,  beautiful  and 
splendid  prairies,  we  were  oftentimes  deeply  humbled  in  spirit  in 
meditating  upon  the  wondrous  works  of  God  in  creating  this  earth, 
together  with  all  his  varied  and  wonderful  works,  and  making  and 
forming  man  and  placing  him  in  this  world,  to  love  him  and  to  keep 
his  commiindments;  and  in  these  meditations  we  were  oftentimes 
inspired  with  this  desire — "  0  that  men  would  praise  the  Lord  for 
his  goodness,  and  for  his  wonderful  works  to  the  children  of  men!" 
But  these  sweet  meditations  were  often  interrupted  in  the  very  sor- 
rowful recollection  of  the  very  awful  and  dreadful  calamity  still 
pervading  our  beloved  country,  for  the  war  is  still  raging  with  all 
the  horrors  and  evils  attendant  on  this  deeply  afflicting  scourge. 

In  the  remembrance  of  these  terrible  national  troubles,  we  were, 
however,  deeply  affected  with  sorrow  in  believing  that  these  calam- 
ities do  not  sufficiently  humble  the  people  of  these  United  States. 
If  we  would,  as  a  nation,  manifest  a  more  practical  reliance  on  the 
great  Euler  of  nations,  reposing  our  country's  cause  more  in  his 
hands,  and  assuming  its  defense  and  management  less  in  our  own 
way,  co-operating,  however,  with  him  in  all  ways  consistent  with 
his  will,  then  we  would  have  cause  to  ho})e  that  he  would  arise  for 
our  deliverance  and  again  restore  tranquility  and  prosperity  to  our 
beloved  and  deeply  afflicted  country. 

In  attending  our  Yearly  Meeting  this  autumn,  1862,  I  was 
deeply  affected  in  lamenting  the  sorrowful  reports  that  came  up 
from  our  Quarterly  Meetings,  spreading  before  us  the  intelligence 
that  upwards  of  a  hundred  of  our  young  men  had  volunteered  and 
Joined  the  army,  and  hud  gone  into  the  war;  and  many  other  young 
men  in  our  society,  in  various  parts  of  the  United  States,  have  also 
left  us,  volunteered,  and  have  gone  into  this  Avar.  And  also,  about 
this  time,  under  the  draft  ordered  by  our  President,  many  among 
us  were  drafted;  some  of  whom  stood  firm  for  the  testimony  of 
peace,  while  others,  instead  of  suffering  as  Christians,  under  the 
requisitions  of  this  government,  jiaid  their  fines,  and  so  far  violated 
this  precious  testimony;  and  such  departure  by  our  numbers  from 
n  gospel  testimony  so  dear  and  precious  to  me  as  that  against  war, 
is  the  cause  of  much  sorrow,  grief  and  lamentation  to  my  mind. 

This  intelligence  being  spread  before  us,  deeply  humbled  our 


180-3  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARN-ETT,  397 

minds,  under  the  conviction  tluit  all  wars  and  fightings  are  forbid- 
den under  the  gospel  dispensation,  which  was  ushered  in  by  the 
anthem  "  on  eartli  i)eace  and  good  will  toward  men,"  and  the  prom- 
inent characteristic  of  which  is  love  to  God  and  man — a  love  which 
will  effectually  prevent  us  from  taking  the  lives  or  shedding  the 
])lood  of  our  fellow-beings.  We  should  rest  with  humble  reliance 
upon  our  blessed  Savior,  Who  is  toncbed  with  a  feeling  of  our  in- 
firmities, and  who  lays  no  requisition  upon  us  without  enabling  us 
to  perform  it,  to  the  glory  of  his  name,  and  to  the  peace  of  our  own 
minds.  The  experience  of  his  followers  in  all  past  ages  should 
strengthen  our  faith  and  confirm  our  reliance  upon  him.  When 
surrounded  with  difficulties  through  which  we  cannot  see  our  way, 
let  us  cast  ourselves  upon  him,  in  the  obedience  of  faith,  and  he 
will  in  his  own  time  deliver  us,  to  the  peace  and  comfort  of  our 
minds,  and  to  the  glory  of  his  name. 

In  the  opening  of  the  first  day  of  this  year,  18G3,  T,  together 
Avith  my  dear  wife,  were  deeply  bowed  in  spirit,  so  that  this  morn- 
ing, in  the  time  of  our  family  worship,  prayer  and  supplication, 
together  with  thanksgiving  and  praise,  were  offered  up  to  God  for 
all  his  mercies  and  blessings  bestowed  on  us,  his  poorest  servants, 
all  our  life  long;  and  we  were  also  drawn  to  supplicate  on  behalf  of 
our  troubled  country,  as  well  as  for  all  our  fellow-beings  through- 
out the  whole  world,  all  being  the  objects  of  redeeming  love. 

This  was  a  most  important  day  to  this  country.  The  President 
of  the  United  States,  in  consideration  of  the  sin  of  slavery  being 
the  cause  of  the  dreadful  calamity  now  upon  this  afflicted  land,  is- 
sued on  this  day  his  proclamation  of  emancipation,  declaring  "that 
all  persons  held  as  slaves  within  any  State  or  designated  part  of  a 
State,"  where  the  people  thereof  are  "  in  open  rebellion  against  the 
United  States,"  shall  "  henceforth  and  forever"  be  free. 

The  issuing  of  this  proclamation  by  him  was  "  sincerely  believed 
to  be  an  act  of  justice  warranted  by  the  constitution,  upon  military 
necessity;  "  therefore  he  invoked  the  considerate  judgment  of  man- 
kind and  the  gracious  favor  of  Almighty  God. 

This  proclamation,  if  carried  out,  will  emancipate  many  thou- 
sands of  poor,  degraded  and  trodden-down,  afflicted  and  suffering 
slaves. 

This  work  of  emancipation  had,  however,  already  commenced 
under  the  military  authority  of  the  United  States;  for  since  this  war 
commenced  many  afflicted  slaves  have  obtained  their  freedom,  and 
also  many  soldiers  on  both  sides  have  fallen  in  battle,  and  many 
others  also  have  died  through  diseases  taken  in  the  army.  Such  are 
the  dreadful  evils  consequent  upon  the  sin  of  war  and  of  slavery, 
together  with  the  heavy  expenditure  and  troubles  thrown  upon  the 
people  in  general. 

In  a  review,  through  the  course  of  this  year,  of  the  present  situ- 
ation of  our  religious  society,  and  also  of  the  calamity  attendant 


398  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  i8fiS 

on  this  afflicted  land,  much  discouragement  pervlided  me,  in  con- 
sideration of  the  want  of  more  vital  Christianity  among  us,  and 
also  among  the  ]ieople  generally  in  this  country,  the  war  spirit  so 
much  ]n-evailing  in  many  minds. 

In  respect  to  the  Society  of  Friends,  I  can  but  mourn,  under  the 
conviction  of  the  want  of  more  mutual  confidence,  in  many  in- 
stances, among  us,  and  also  in  being  made  sensible  of  the  departure 
of  many  of  our  members  from  a  number  of  the  testimonies  of  the 
gospel  given  us  to  bear  to  the  world  in  this  adulterous  and  sinful 
generation.  But  those  who  are  ashamed  of  the  blessed  Saviour  in 
this  world,  of  them  also  shall  he  be  ashamed  "  when  he  cometh  in 
the  glory  of  his  Father  with  the  holy  angels."  I  believe,  however, 
that  there  are  many  sincere-hearted,  upright  and  devoted  Christians 
among  us,  who  do  not  shun  to  declare  and  to  maintain  all  the 
counsel  of  God,  together  with  all  the  testimonies  attendant  on  the 
glorious  and  everlasting  gospel  of  peace  and  salvation. 

In  regard  to  my  beloved  country,  I  felt  much  borne  down  in 
spirit,  in  consideration  of  the  dark  and  awful  cloud  now  hovering 
over  this  government.  The  civil  war  is  still  raging  with  dreadful 
and  fearful  fury;  many  during  this  year,  in  the  free  States,  so 
called,  turned  to  be  open  traitors  to  their  country,  and  made  efforts 
to  assist  the  rebels  in  their  outrage  against  this  government;  so 
that  it  appeared  to  me  to  be  indeed  a  very  awfully  critical  time  in 
this  land.  And  notwithstanding  all  these  very  heavy  national 
troubles  and  afflictions,  yet  in  many  instances  the  people  are  not 
humbled  in  spirit  before  the  great  and  almighty  Euler  of  nations. 

Our  Yearly  Meeting  came  together  this  autumn  ( 1SG3 )  with 
feelings  of  deep  humility,  and  with  prayer  and  supi^lication  to 
God  for  all  our  fellow-beings,  especially  for  those  who  are  in  au- 
thority, earnestly  desiring  that  all  our  dear  Friends  everywhere 
'■  may  lead  a  quiet  and  peaceable  life  in  all  godliness  and  honesty, 
for  this  is  good  and  acceptable  in  the  sight  of  God  our  Saviour, 
who  will  have  all  men  to  be  saved  and  come  unto  fllie  knowledge 
of  the  truth." 

Among  the  subjects  that  came  before  us  for  consideration  and 
disposal  was  that  of  the  suffering  condition  of  the  pool'  colored 
people  who  had  been  liberated  from  slavery  through  the  course 
of  this  year,  under  the  proclamation  of  emancipation  issued  by 
the  President  of  this  government;  for  through  this  channel  many 
thousands  of  the  poor  slaves  have  obtained  their  freedom,  and 
stand  in  great  need  of  the  benevolence  of  all  humane  people  every- 
where. 

Towards  these  poor,  suffering,  destitute  and  trodden-down  peo- 
ple our  sympathy  was  deeply  awakened,  and  with  a  desire  that  the 
members  of  our  religious  society  everywhere  may  stand  foremost  in 
rendering  them  all  the  assistance  needful  every  way,  which  is  our 
reasonable  duty  as  Christians,  according  to  this  testimony  of  our 


\m  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  399 

blessed  Saviour,  to  be  brought  to  view  in  the  last  day,  '*  I  was  an 
hungered,  and  ye  gave  me  meat;  I  was  thirsty,  and  ye  gave  me 
drink;  I  was  a  stranger,  and  ye  took  me  in;  naked,  and  ye  clothed 
me;  I  was  sick,  and  ye  visited  me;  I  was  in  prison,  and  ye  came 
unto  me."  For  "  inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it  unto  one  of  the  least 
of  these  my  brethren,  ye  have  done  it  unto  me." 

In  feeling  after  our  religious  duty  in  respect  to  this  matter,  way 
opened  for  us  to  appoint  an  executive  committee  to  take  charge  of 
this  concern,  to  labor  for  the  relief  of  the  physical  necessities 
and  the  religious  and  mental  improvement  of  those  who  have  been 
and  may  be  released  from  slavery  under  the  dreadful  and  awful  ca- 
lamity now  s})rcad  over  our  beloved  country,  to  receive  all  funds 
Avhich  may  be  contributed  for  their  benefit,  and  to  see  that  they 
are  proi)erly  applied  ;  to  employ  suitable  agents  to  attend  to  their 
distribution  :  to  judge  of  the  qualification  of  those  Avho  may  offer 
themselves  to  devote  their  time  to  the  work  of  visiting  them,  or 
residing  among  and  instructing  the  freed  people  of  color,  and 
otherwise  in  every  way  they  can  to  further  the  good  cause  of  benev- 
olence toward  them  ;  and  our  dear  Friends  everywhere  a})pear  to  be 
lively  in  promoting  this  good  work.  May  God,  in  his  mercy  and 
in  his  own  Avay,  carry  on  tbis  good  work  of  freedom  till  slavery 
shall  be  abolished  throughout  the  whole  world  I  ^ 

In  the  opening  of  this  year,  1864, 1,  together  with  my  dear  wife, 
were  deeply  humbled  in  the  spirit  of  prayer  and  supplication  to 
God,  that  he  would  have  mercy  upon  all  our  dear  Friends  every- 
where, and  also  upon  our  beloved  country,  and  that  he  would,  in 
his  own  time,  interpose  on  behalf  of  this  agitated  and  afflicted 
land;  for  the  war  is  still  raging  with  dreadful  and  awful  horror, 
and  many  are  still  falling  in  battle  on  both  sides,  and  Ave  fear  that 
Friends,  in  many  instances,  in  various  parts  of  this  country,  are 
not  maintaining  a  faithful  testimony  to  the  peaceable  nature  of  the 
kingTU)m  of  the  Prince  of  Peace,  as  called  for  by  the  spirit  of  the 
gku'ious  and  everlasting  gospel  of  the  blessed  Saviour. 

In  the  fore  part  of  this  year  most  of  the  meetings  for  sufferings 
m  tbis  country,  as  representatives  of  our  society  in  the  Yearly 
Meetings  wherein  they  were  appointed,  agitated  the  subject  in  the 
Congress  of  the  I'nited  States,  by  presenting  memorials  asking  ex- 
emption from  under  the  draft  law  pending  under  the  control  of 
this  government,  and  tbe  result  of  this  agitation  eventually  had  the 
effect  in  our  Congress  to  produce  the  following  bill,  whicli  became 
a  law,  containing  this  section  :  ''  Members  of  religious  denomina- 
tions, who  shall,  by  oath  or  affirmation,  declare  that  they  are  con- 
scientiously opposed  to  the  bearing  of  arms,  and  who  are  prohibited 
from  so  doing  by  the  rules  and  articles  of  faitli  and  practice  of  such 
religious  denominations,  shall,  Avhen  drafted  into  the  military  serv- 
ice, be  considered  noncombatants,  and  shall  be  assigned  by  the  Sec- 
retary of  War  to  the  duty  in  the  hospitals,  or  to  the  care  of  the 


400     •  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    AKN'KTT.  IS-H 

freedmeu,  or  shall  pay  the  sum  of  three  hundred  dollars,  to  be  applied 
to  the  benefit  of  the  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  :  proTidetl.  that  no 
person  shall  be  entitled  to  the  benefit  of  this  section  unless  his  dec- 
laration of  conscientious  scruples  against  bearing  arms  shall  be  su])- 
ported  by  satisfactory  evidence  that  his  deportment  has  been  uni- 
formly consistent  with  such  declaration." 

In  the  administration  of  church  discipline  this  year,  in  our 
Yearly  Meeting,  the  subject  was  agitated  whether  our  members, 
when  drafted,  could,  according  to  our  conviction  of  the  peacable 
nature  of  the  kingdom  of  our  blessed  Saviour,  accept  this  offer  of 
our  government.  While  engaged  under  this  deliberation.  Friends 
were  very  much  divided  in  sentiment  on  this  subject  but  discuss- 
ing it  with  Christian  condescension,  resulted  in  the  conclusion  to 
leave  our  members  at  liberty,  when  drafted,  to  accept  the  offer  of 
our  government  in  case  that  such  should  believe  it  to  be  their  dutv 
so  to  do. 

Since  the  commencement  of  the  dreadful  and  awful  calamity 
now  spread  upon  our  beloved  country,  I  have  spent  much  time  in 
deliberating  with  prayer  and  supplication  to  God,  to  see  and  to 
know  the  duty  of  all  our  dear  Friends  who  live  under  this  govern- 
ment, in  the  maintenance  of  our  testimony  against  war.  In  this 
dedication  my  conviction  has  been,  that  it  is  the  duty  of  all  our 
dear  Friends  to  stand  very  firm  to  this  testimony,  in  faithful  al- 
legiance to  Him  whose  it  is  and  who  gave  it  to  the  Apostles  and  to 
the  early  Christians,  and  also  to  us  as  a  church,  to  bear  before  the 
rulers  and  the  people  of  the  world. 

My  desire  has  been,  dnring  these  very  awful  calamities  now  agi- 
tating this  country,  that  we,  as  a  Christian  church,  may  live  so 
nigh  to  Him  "  whose  goings  forth  have  been  from  of  old,  from  ever- 
lasting," and  so  near  one  to  another  in  the  unity  of  the  spirit,  in 
the  bond  of  peace,  as  to  deepen  in  the  root  of  immortal  life;  that 
N^e  may  be  strong  in  the  grace  that  is  in  Christ  Jesus,  through 
faith,  showing,  out  of  a  good  conversation  and  consistent  con- 
duct, that  while  we  are  bound  in  faithful  allegiance  to  Him  in  the 
maintenance  of  this  Christian  testimony,  yet  we  are  perfectly  loyal 
to  the  government  under  which  we  live,  submitting  in  the  obedi- 
ence of  faith,  either  actively  or  passively,  to  the  execution  of  the 
laws  thereof  ;  and  as  we  maintain  this  precious  testimony  inviolate 
in  a  right  spirit,  under  all  the  trying  circumstances  that  may  come 
upon  u^,  then,  1  believe,  under  the  grace  of  God,  we  we  shall,  as  a 
christian  Church,  in  degree,  be  the  harbinger  in  the  accom])lish- 
ment  of  that  glorious  day  when  "the  kingdoms  of  this  world  are 
i)ecome  the  kingdoms  of  our  Lord,  and  of  his  Christ,  and  he  shall 
reign  forever  and  ever. '" 

It  is  my  conviction,  that  had  all  our  dear  Friends  stood  firm  in 
the  maintenance  of  our  Christian  testimony  against  war  during  the 
time  of  our  national  calamity,  as  well  as  at  all  other  times,  accord- 


1864  JOURNAL    OF   TIIOAIAS    AIINETT.  401 

ing  to  the  will  of  God,  that  he  would  have  preserved  and  protected 
us  and  caused  his  light  to  shine  through  us  to  the  world,  to  the 
glory  of  Ilis  name  and  to  the  honor  of  his  peaceable  testimony 
to  the  rulers  and  peo])le  of  the  earth.  But  instead  thereof,  so 
many  of  our  members  have  gone  into  the  army,  others  have  paid 
their  draft  fine,  and  many  others  have  violated  tliis  precious  and 
Christian  testimony  in  various  ways  and  forms,  so  as,  u'pon  the 
whole,  by  all  these  violations,  we  have,  in  degree,  as  a  Christian 
church,  lessened,  I  believe,  the  weiglit  of  our  character  before  the 
rulers  of  our  agitated  and  afflicted  land,  as  also  before  the  people 
who  uphold  and  support  our  government.  I  am  comforted  in  be- 
lieving, however,  while  I  mourn  over  the  walk  and  conduct  of  our 
inconsistent  members,  that  there  are  many  among  us  who  hold  the 
faith,  the  doctrine  and  all  the  testimonies  of  the  gospel  to  be  very 
near  and  dear  to  them,  and  who  walk  in  the  light  of  God,  and 
have  fellowship  one  with  another,  and  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ, 
His  son,  cleanses  them  from  all  sin. 

My  dear  wife,  having  been  impressed  for  a  considerable  time 
past  with  a  religious  concern  to  attend,  in  the  love  of  the  gospel, 
Philadelphia  and  New  York  Yearly  Meetings  of  Friends,  and  to 
attend  to  such  other  services,  while  under  this  engagement,  as 
called  for,  in  the  truth,  after  receiving  the  full  unity  and  sympathy 
of  Friends,  according  to  the  order  of  our  society,  for  the  opening  of 
the  way  to  carry  out  this  dedication,  she  set  out  in  the  prosecution 
thereof  in  the  Spring  of  this  year,  1864,  in  time  to  attend  the  serv- 
ice of  Phihxdelphia  Yearly  Meeting,  where  she  safely  arrived,  to 
the  comfort  of  many  Friends  in  that  city  and  the  vicinity  thereof. 
And  after  attending  the  service  of  the  Yearly  Meeting  in  that  city 
to  good  satisfaction,  she  jiroceeded  to  New  York,  where  she  was 
kindly  received  by  Friends,  and  where  she  also  attended  the  service 
of  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends  in  that  city,  to  the  comfort  and 
edification  of  the  brethren  and  sisters  in  attendance.  And  after 
performing  her  gospel  mission  to  Friends  and  others,  as  way 
opened,  in  the  limits  of  these  Yearly  Meetings,  to  the  comfort  and 
consolation  of  her  own  mind,  and  to  the  satisfaction  and  edifica- 
tion of  those  whom  she  visited,  she  returned  home  with  sweet 
peace  of  mind,  to  my  joy  and  comfort,  and  to  the  satisfaction  of 
Friends.  She  was  out  in  the  prosecution  of  this  concern  upward 
of  two  mouths,  and  Avhile  she  was  engaged  in  the  performance  of 
this  dedication,  Friends  and  others  were  very  kind  and  attentive 
to  her.     Praised  and  adored  forever  be  the  Lord! 

Wliile  my  dear  wife  was  out,  engaged  in  the  prosecution  of  this 
religious  dedication,  I  was  also  called  upon,  through  the  sjurit  of 
God,  and  with  the  unity  and  sympathy  of  Friends,  to  perform  u 
religious  visit  to  Friends  and  others  in  the  limits  of  Fairfield  Quar- 
terly Meeting  of  Friends.  While  engaged  in  this  dedication,  I  vis- 
ited the  meetings  and  most  of  the  families  of  Friends,  constituting 


4()-2  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  1864 

tliis  Quarterly  Meeting,  and  held  several  public  meetings  in  those 
parts  for  Friends  and  others,  who  manifested  much  sympathy  and 
unity  for  and  with  me.  In  performing  this  family  visit,  I  was  daily 
under  great  weight  of  mind.  The  spirit  of  prayer  and  supplica- 
tion to  God  lived  in  me  very  much,  both  day  and  night,  that  he 
would  lead  me  aright,  and  enable  me  rightly  to  divide  the  word  of 
truth,  to  the  Avarning  and  edification  of  all  the  visited,  whereunto 
I  was  called  in  passing  on  from  house  to  house.  In  the  prosecution  of 
this  dedication,  I  met  with  many  sincere-hearted  Friends,  who  had 
been  converted,  and  were  growing  in  grace,  and  in  the  knowledge  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ;  and  I  also  met  with  those  who  were  lukewarm, 
and  had  not  mucli  dejitli  of  religious  e.\i)enence.  The  Lord,  how- 
ever, enabled  me  to  speak  to  the  states  and  conditions  of  those  whom 
I  visited,  so  that  from  day  to  day,  in  the  performance  of  this  gos- 
pel labor,  I  felt  the  gracious  seal  of  his  acceptance. 

In  the  prosecution  of  this  concern,  I  visited  two  hundred  and 
twenty-five  families,  to  the  peace  and  comfort  of  my  own  mind, 
and  to  tiie  satisfaction  and  edification  of  Friends  in  those  parts. 
Praised  forever  be  the  name  of  the  Lord! 

Through  the  course  of  this  year,  ISGi,  it  was  oftentimes  in  my 
experience  to  shudder  and  to  tremble,  under  a  sense  of  the  agita- 
tion and  affliction  still  permitted  to  assail  my  beloved  country, 
there  being,  in  many  instances,  such  powerful  opposition  to  the 
l)rc8ent  administration  in  the  effort  already  made  for  the  entire 
abolition  of  slavery  throughout  this  great  republic.  Matters  thus 
rolled  on,  under  a  deep  struggle  and  conflict,  till  the  time  of  the 
presidential  election  again  arrived,  which  occurred  in  the  latter 
part  of  this  year,  when  Abraham  Lincoln,  our  beloved  President, 
Avas  again  elected  to  that  high  ofiice,  together  with  Andrew  John- 
son for  Vice-President.  They  were  elected  with  a  very  large  ma- 
jority of  votes,  they  being  united  in  carrying  out  the  complete  abo- 
lition of  slavery  throughout  the  limits  of  this  government.  This 
renewed  manifestation  of  public  sentiment  against  slavery  had  a 
powerful  check  u{)on  their  opposite  candidates  for  the  presidency, 
and  also  upon  those  who  supjDorted  them  by  the  right  of  suffrage, 
and  therefore  their  defeat  in  this  election  was  much  calculated  to 
settle  and  in  some  degree  to  harmonize  the  people  in  this  country, 
and  to  strengthen  this  government,  wherein  there  are  many  sincere 
believers  in  Christ  under  mourning  and  lamentation  in  beholding 
the  sin  and  wickedness  of  this  nation. 

In  the  opening  of  this  year,  1805,  I,  together  with  my  dear  wife, 
Avero  impressed  Avith  feelings  of  very  deep  humility  and  thankful- 
ness to  God  for  all  his  mercies  and  blessings  bestoAved  upon  us  all 
our  life  long;  we  Avere  inspired  Avith  the  s})irit  of  prayer  and  sup- 
plication, not  only  for  ourselves,  but  for  all  our  fellow-beings  every- 
where. We,  hoAvever,  mourned  over  the  continued  calamity  of 
our  beloved  country,   for  the  civil  Avar  is  still  rolling  on  Avith  in- 


1865  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    A  U  N  KTI'.  403 

creased  horror  and  destruction  of  luiniun  life.  Tiirougli  the  past 
year  many  fell  in  battle  on  both  sides,  while  others,  under  various 
circumstunees,  died  in  the  armies  among  the  soldiers  of  our  gov- 
ernment, and  also  among  those  of  the  rebels. 

We  had  evidence,  however,  in  the  light  of  truth,  to  believe  that, 
through  divine  interposition,  this  war  would  be  brought  to  a  close 
by  the  fall  of  the  rebellion,  and  our  government  would  be  sustained, 
to  the  joy  of  all  our  loyal  people,  through  the  course  of  this  year. 
For  the  force  of  the  rebels  is  becoming  weaker  and  weaker,  while 
that  of  the  United  States  is  growing  stronger  and  stronger.  Many 
thousands  of  our  countrymen  have  fallen  in  battle  in  this  war,  and 
also  many  thousands  of  the  poor  slaves  have  obtained  their  free- 
dom since  this  war  commenced.  Amidst  these  national  troubles, 
while  the  mantle  of  weeping  and  lamentation  is  spread  over  many 
minds  in  our  midst,  yet  there  are  many  among  us  who  are  commit- 
ting sin  and  wickedness  in  high  places. 

The  rulers,  together  with  the  people  generally,  in  this  country, 
now  becoming  more  and  more  awakened,  so  as  to  see  and  to  under- 
stand the  enormous  and  horrible  sin  of  slavery,  that  it  is  a  curse 
upon  our  afHicted  land,  and  that  our  government  will  never  be  set- 
tled upon  a  sure  basis  till  it  be  utterly  abolished  from  out  of  our 
midst,  therefore  this  subject  very  much  agitated  the  members  of 
our  Congress  till  the  last  day  of  the  first  month  of  this  year,  1865, 
Avhen,  on  that  day.  Congress  passed  an  act,  by  upwards  of  two-thirds 
of  the  votes  of  the  members  thereof,  to  amend  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States,  so  as  to  be  enabled,  when  this  act  shall  become 
so  far  ratified  by  the  State  Legislatures  of  this  government  as  to 
become  a  law,  utterly  to  abolish  the  sin  of  slavery  throughout  this 
great  republic.  And  my  earnest  desire  and  prayer  to  God  is,  that 
this  work  may  roll  on,  consistent  with  his  will,  till  the  yoke  of  op- 
pression shall  be  broken,  so  as  all  the  sons  and  daughters  of  Africa 
may  go  free  throughout  the  world. 

As  "there  was  long  war  between  the  house  of  Saul  and  the  house 
of  David,  but  David  waxed  stronger  and  stronger,  and  the  house 
of  Saul  waxed  weaker  and  weaker,"  so  it  was  very  much  about  this 
time  in  this  country  under  the  long  war  pending  between  the  North 
and  the  South.  The  Xorth  waxed  stronger  and  stronger,  and  the 
South  waxed  weaker  and  weaker,  till  the  oi)ening  of  the  fourth 
month  in  this  year,  1865,  when  intelligence  was  very  much  spread 
throughout  the  United  States,  that  after  some  dreadful  battles,  in 
which  several  thousand  fell  on  both  sides,  that  the  rebellion  had 
fallen,  and  was  crushed  down  by  the  forces  of  the  United  States 
armies.  This  intelligence  being  spread  over  the  country  caused  a 
most  wonderful  uproar  among  the  people  generally  throughout  the 
land,  rejoicing  in  various  ways  and  forms,  in  consequence  of  the 
fall  of  the  rebellion,  connected  with  shouting,  firing  guns,  music, 
and  beating  of    drums.     The   intelligence  of  these  things  deeply 


404  .JOUKNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  18(» 

moved  my  dear  wife  and  myself  into  the  most  profound  Inimility  of 
spirit,  Avitli  tears,  prayer  and  siijaplication  to  God,  together  with 
thanksgiving  to  him  for  the  close  of  this  dreadful  war  and  for  the 
return  of  traucjuility  and  prosperity  upon  this  great  and  exte'ided 
government.  After  this  there  were  skirmislies  for  awhile  fought 
in  various  parts  of  the  rebel  States,  but  they  soon  subsided,  and  so 
the  war  ended,  after  raging  with  dreadful  fury  for  about  the  space 
of  four  desolating  and  conflicting  years. 

The  war  being  now  ended  and  the  rebellion  fallen,  many  of  the 
leaders  thereof  having  surrendered  to  the  authorities  of  the  United 
States,  and  in  consequence  of  the  triumphant  victories  obtained 
over  the  insurgents,  many  believers  in  Christ,  I  believe,  were  sin- 
cere in  giving  thanks  to  God  in  acknowledgement  that,  under  his 
mercy  and  providence,  that  the  greatest  rebellion  recorded  in  his- 
tory had  fallen;  yet  I  had  cause  to  mourn  over  the  American  jieo- 
ple,  in  many  instances,  in  consideration  of  their  vanity  and  self- 
importance  publicly  manifested  on  this  deeply  affecting  occasion — 
they  generally  ai)peared  to  feel  very  independent  and  safe,  not  con- 
sidering that  "the  name  of  the  Lord  is  a  strong  tower,  the  righteous 
runneth  into  it  and  is  safe;"  and  they  moved  forth  in  their  course 
as  the  noise  of  many  waters,  together  with  all  the  vanity  connccred 
with  the  seed  of  sin  and  transgression  interwoven  in  human  nature, 
consequent  upon  the  fall  of  man,  so  that  under  all  the  calamity 
permitted  upon  this  country,  in  consequence  of  sin  and  transgres- 
sion, the  people  were  still  not  humbled  as  they  ought  to  be.  But 
God,  I  believe,  for  some  wise  pur[)ose,  very  much  unknown  toman, 
permitted  the  exultation  of  tiie  people  of  our  afflicted  land  to  be 
turned  into  the  most  keen  and  intense  sorrow,  by  the  spread  of  a 
cloud  of  darkness,  sackcloth  and  tishes  over  our  deei)ly  afflicted 
and  agitated  country. 

AVickedness  having  now  come  to  the  highest  pitch  in  high  places 
in  this  country,  so  that  on  the  14th  day  of  the  4th  month,  18()5, 
our  faithful  and  devoted  President  was  assassinated  near  toward 
midnight  in  a  theater  in  Washington,  lie  was  shot  in  the  head  by 
an  enemy  to  all  that  is  right  and  good,  and  died  eai'ly  on  the  next 
morning;  so  that  the  15th  day  of  this  month  in  this  year  was,  I 
apprehend,  the  most  awful  and  mournful  season  that  ever  fell  upon 
this  country,  very  much  similar,  it  appears  to  me,  to  tliat  which 
was  in  the  experience  of  David,  the  King,  in  feeling  the  force  of 
his  physical  and  political  strength,  which  induced  him  to  di  liver 
this  testimony:  "In  my  prosperity  I  said,  I  shall  never  be  mov>'d. 
Lord,  by  thy  favor  thou  hast  made  my  mountain  to  stand  simng; 
thou  didst  hide  thy  iace,  and  I  was  tronl)led."  I  believe  that  God, 
however,  in  permitting  this  sudden,  renewed  calamity  tt)  be  spread 
upon  this  country,  will  yet  abundantly  bless,  i)rosper  and  juotcct 
this  government. 

The  intelligence  of  the  loss  of  our  valued  and  honored  President 


im,  JOUKNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKNETT.  405 

on  this  day  flashed  over  the  nation  through  telegraph  electricity 
like  lightning,  and  humbled  all  the  loyal  people  thereof  in  the  most 
intense  grief  and  lamentation,  so  that  in  all  the  cities,  towns,  vil- 
lages, and  throughout  the  country  generally,  tokens  of  sorrow  and 
mourning  were  manifested.  Thousands  and  millions  of  our  peo- 
ple, I  believe,  poured  forth  their  tears  under  a  deep  sense  of  the  loss 
of  onr  Chief  Magistrate  in  such  a  shocking  manner,  being  "the 
minister  of  God,  a  revenger  to  execute  wrath  upon  him  that  doeth 
evil." 

He  was  one  of  the  best  Presidents  that  ever  presided  in  this  gov- 
ernment. He  was  one  who  was  very  much  raised  up  from  humble 
walks  in  life,  and  through  his  own  energy  and  good  conduct  be- 
came useful  in  our  government,  and  finally  so  far  gained  the  confi- 
dence of  our  peoi)le  as  to  be  jiromoted  to  the  highest  political  sta- 
tion upon  the  earth,  being  made  a  spectacle  to  men,  to  angels  and 
to  the  world.  He  was  a  believer  in  the  doctrine  of  the  Christian 
religion,  and  in  his  messages  and  proclamations,  delivered  under 
his  judicious  and  wise  administration,  he  acknowledged  the  pro- 
tecting power  and  authority  of  Almighty  God  over  the  nations  of 
the  earth.  He  was  the  friend  of  the  suffering  sons  and  daughters 
of  Africa,  and  was  the  first  Pj-esident  in  this  country  who  reared 
u])  a  laithful  standard  against  slavery,  and  did  all  that  he  could, 
consistent  with  the  laws  and  constitution  of  our  government,  utterly 
to  abolish  this  dreadful  curse  from  the  face  of  this  country;  and  he 
was  instrumental,  together  with  his  fellow-laborers,  to  lay  tlie 
foundation  of  the  coniplete  extinction  of  slavery  from  the  Ameri- 
can soil,  which  dedication  finally  cost  him  his  natural  life.  But  his 
energetic  labor  and  fervent  desire  for  the  good  of  the  poor,  degraded 
and  \rodden-down  colored  nuin  will  not  only  be  spread  throughout 
the  civilized  world,  but  will  also  be  transmitted  down  to  the  latest 
posterity,  as  an  honorable  testimony  to  his  name. 

AVhile  [,  however,  do  deeply  mourn  in  consequence  of  the  lossof 
our  late  President,  yet  I  do  most  deeply  regret  that  he  was  assassin- 
ated in  a  theater,  believing  that  such  places  ought  not  to  be  fre- 
quented by  people  of  such  high  standing,  nor  by  the  professors  of 
Christianity. 

A  person  who  is  in  the  habit  at  his  leisure  hours  of  looking  into 
the  vast  and  stupendous  works  of  creation,  of  contemplating  the 
wisdom,  goodness  and  power  of  the  Creator,  of  considering  the 
great  and  magnificent  works  of  his  providence;  who  is  in  the  habit 
of  surveying  all  mankind,  of  tracing  the  same  unerring  channel; 
the  uses  iind  objects  of  their  existence;  the  design  of  their  differ- 
ent ranks  and  situations  in  life;  the  nature  of  their  relative  duties, 
and  the  like,  could  never,  I  believe,  have  either  any  enjoyment  or 
be  concerned  in  the  invention  of  dramatic  exhibitions.  To  a  mind 
in  the  habit  of  taking  such  an  elevated  view,  it  appears  to  me  that 
evervthing  on  the  stage  must  look  little  and   insignificant  and  out 


406  .lOUliXAL    OF   THOMAS    AKXETT.  1865 

of  place.  How  could  a  person  of  such  a  mind  be  delighted  with 
the  musical  note  of  a  fiddle,  the  attitude  of  a  dancer,  the  impas- 
sioned grimace  of  an  actor?  How  could  the  intrigue,  or  the  love- 
sick tale  of  the  composition,  please  him?  Or  how  could  he  have 
imagined  that  these  could  be  tlie  comi)onent  parts,  in  any  degree,  of 
the  Christian  religion? 

This  inference,  I  believe,  is  confirmed  by  the  testimony  of  the 
early  Christians.  They  considered  the  manner  of  the  drama  as 
objectionable.  They  believed  that  he  who  was  the  author  of  truth 
could  never  approve  of  that  which  was  false,  and  that  he  who  con- 
demned hyjDocrisy  could  never  approve  of  him  who  personated  the 
characters  of  others  on  tlie  stage;  and  that  they,  tlierefore,  who 
pretended  to  be  in  love,  or  to  be  angry  or  to  grieve,  when  none  of 
these  passions  existed  in  their  minds,  were  guilty  of  prevarication 
in  the  sight  of  God. 

They  considered  their  contents  to  be  noxious.  They  looi<ed  upon 
them  as  consistories  of  immorality.  They  affirmed  that  things 
were  shown  there  which  it  did  not  become  Christians  to  see,  and 
that  while  these  things  i)olluted  tliose  from  whom  tliey  came,  they 
also  polluted  those  in  time  in  whose  siglit  and  hearing  they  were 
either  shown  or  spoken. 

They  believed  tliat  these  things  not  only  polluted  the  spectators, 
but  that  the  representation  of  certain  characters  upon  the  stage 
pointed  out  to  them  the  various  roads  to  vice,  and  inclined  them  to 
become  the  persons  whom  tliey  had  seen  represented,  or  to  be  actors 
in  I'eality  of  what  they  had  seen  feigned  upon  the  stage. 

They  believed  that  dramatic  exhibitions  produced  a  frame  of 
mind  contrary  to  that  which  should  exist  in  the  mind  of  a  true 
Christian;  that  there  was  nothing  to  be  seen  upon  the  stage  that 
could  lead  or  encourage  him  to  devotion  to  God;  but,  on  the  other 
hand,  that  the  noise  and  fury  of  the  [)lay-house  and  the  representa- 
tions tliere  produced  a  state  of  excitement  that  disturbed  the  peace 
and  (piietness  of  the  mind,  where.is  the  spirit  of  a  Christian  ought 
to  be  calm,  quiet,  patient  and  composed  to  tit  it  for  the  duties  re- 
quired under  the  Cross  of  Jesus  Christ. 

And  they  believed,  also,  that  such  ])romiscuous  assemblages  of 
men  and  Avomen  were  unfavoral)le  to  virtue,  for  that  the  sparks  of 
the  passions  were  there  blown  into  ilames. 

I  have  no  cause  to  believe  that  there  has  been  any  moral  improve- 
ment in  the  management  and  in  the  conducting  of  theaters  since 
the  day  of  the  early  Christians  down  to  the  present  time;  therefore 
it  is  as  much  the  duty  now  for  Christians  to  bear  a  testimony 
against  them  and  their  evil  consequences  as  it  was  then;  and  I  be- 
lieve that  it  had  a  tendency,  in  degree,  in  many  instances,  to  add 
affliction  very  much  throughout  tlie  Christian  world  that  our  late 
and  valued  Presidi-nt,  after  executing  so  many  worthy  and  excellent 
acts  under  the  administration  of  liis  high  office,  should  linally  be 
assassinated   in  a  theater. 


1865  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT,  4(»T 

On  the  same  dav  of  the  death  of  our  late  and  lamented  Presi- 
dent, Andrew  Johnson,  the  Vice-President,  Avas  duly  inaugurated, 
according  to  the  law  of  this  government,  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  and  not  long  after  his  inauguration  our  society  m 
this  country  united  in  presenting  before  him  the  following  address: 

"To  Andrew  Johnson,  Presit/enf  of  the  Vnifed  States: 

"We  appear  before  thee  as  the  representatives  of  the  religious 
Society  of  Friends.  We  desire  first  to  express  our  heartfelt  grief, 
in  common  with  all  true  men,  under  the  terrible  calamity  in  which 
our  nation  has  been  involved  by  the  assassination  of  its  honored 
Chief  Magistrate,  the  late  Abraham  Lincoln,  a  ruler  whom  we  sin- 
cerelv  and  warmly  loved,  and  to  whom  Ave  accorded  our  profound 
respect,  our  unbounded  gratitude.  We  sympatliize  with  thee. 
President  Johnson,  in  thy  being  unexpectedly  called  to  the  dis- 
charge of  duties  always  of  the  greatest  importance,  but  especially 
difficult  and  embarrassing  in  the  peculiar  .situation  of  our  country. 
We  rejoice  that  the  people  of  our  land  and  the  authorities  of  our 
States  have  given  unmistakable  evidence  that  thou  hast  their  confi- 
dence, and  that  they  will  give  thee  their  hearty  support  as  the  head 
of  the  nation.  Permit  us  to  say  that  the  religious  society  which 
we  represent  has  ever  been  loyal  to  government— always  engaged, 
by  every  means  which  they  can  consistently  use,  to  uphold  it,  and 
duly  to  respect  and  honor  those  placed  in  authority.  We  tender  to- 
thee  the  assurance  of  our  sincere  regard.  We  pray  for  thee,  that 
thou  mayest  receive  divine  grace  to  cheer  and  comfort  thee,  divine 
o-uidance  to  lead  and  direct  thee,  and  divine  protection  to  sustain 
and  keep  tliee.  We  crave  that  thy  administration  of  the  govern- 
ment mav  be  to  the  honor  of  God  and  the  welfare  of  the  people, 
and  that  thou  mavest  be  instrumental  in  restoring  permanent  peace. 
Mav  the  blessing  of  heaven  descend  upon  our  beloved  country,  and 
may  the  kingdom  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  be  extended 
therein  and  throughout  the  whole  world."' 

When  it  is  considered  how  large  a  share  of  the  world's  attention 
Abraham  Lincoln  had  drawn  upon  himself,  how  difficult  his  situa- 
tion, the  prejudices  he  had  to  encounter  at  home  and  abroad,  the 
abuse  and  tile  slander  that  he  endured,  and  then  consider  his  un- 
moved and  unshaken  cquaminity  under  all  circumstances— never 
swerving  from  the  strict  line  of  justice,  ever  maintaining  a  spotless 
integrity  that  shone  brighter  the  more  it  was  tested  and  tried- 
such  a  man,  and  such  a  ruler's  death,  is  to  be  mourned  over  by  all 
classes  of  loyal  people  throughout  the  world 

He  lived,  I  believe,  a  temperate  and  abstemious  life,  a  friend 
and  benefactor  to  everv  movement  that  would  benefit  and  elevate 
his  race.  He  appeared  to  consider  very  much  how  he  could 
make  others  happy,  while  all  the  care  and  responsibility  were  his 

own.  .        ,  » 

Free,  open,  and   without  guile  or  deception,  he  was  a  man  ot 


408  JOrilXAL   OF   THOMAS    AKXETT.  1865 

prayer  and  supplication  to  God,  and  exposed  himself  freely  to  the 
malice  of  his  enemies,  Avhile  he  labored  to  save  them  from  ruin 
they  would  bring  upon  themselves.  Honest,  faithful,  aiul  compe- 
tent, he  inaugui'ated  measures  and  carried  them  out  that  have 
linked  his  name  through  time  to  the  latest  posterity  with  honor 
4ind  renown. 

Not  only  this  nation,  but  other  nations  mourn  his  death,  while 
they  abhor  the  conduct  of  the  councils  and  men  that  procured  the 
assassination  of  such  a  great  and  good  man.  Few  men  have  lived 
Avho  attracted  more  attention,  and  few  have  died  who  caused  such 
^^niversal  grief  and  sorrow. 

Since  the  termination  of  the  deeply  afflicting  civil  war,  permitted 
to  come  upon  this  country,  it  has  been  estimated  that  the  aggregate 
number,  including  all,  both  among  the  federals  and  rebels,  who  in 
battle  and  otherwise  fell  victims  under  "the  sting  of  death"  dur- 
ing this  calamity,  amounted  to  upwards  of  half  a  million  of  our 
feliow-beings,  who  left  many  behind  them  to  mourn,  and  deeply  to 
lament  their  loss  and  the  want  of  their  society. 

In  consideration  of  the  very  heavy  accumuhited  debt  now  rest- 
ing ui)on  this  government,  instituted  by  the  acts  of  our  Congress, 
to  be  enabled  to  sustain  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  in 
connection  with  the  loss  of  so  many  lives  and  other  evils  connected 
with  the  sin  of  war,  it  is  very  earnestly  to  be  desired  that  the  rul- 
ers and  the  people  throughout  the  civilized  Avorld  will  hereafter 
C'ver  stand  so  open  to  the  conviction  of  truth  as  to  see,  under  divine 
grace,  the  evil  consequences  of  war,  of  slavery,  and  of  rebellion. 

While  the  civil  Avar  Avas  raging  in  this  agitated  and  afflicted  land, 
our  dear  Friends  of  London  Yearly  Meeting  repeatedly  sent  us  docu- 
ments expressive  of  their  sympathy  for  and  with  us,  and  toAvard 
this  country,  under  these  calamities,  as  brought  to  vicAV  in  the  fol- 
lowing e[)istie  from  them  : 

From  the  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends,  held  in  London.  Fifth  month, 

1865.      To  Friends  in  North  Atnerica. 

Dear  Friends  :  We  have  repeatedly  expressed  our  deei)  sym- 
patliy  with  you  in  the  calamities  and  trials  of  your  protracted  civil 
Avar.  Nor  can  we  Avithhold  the  like  expression  on  the  great  national 
jiffliction  Avhich  you  have  sustaiiied  in  the  assassination  of  your  be- 
loved  President,  just  as  that  Avar  seemed  brought  to  a  close. 

You  will  already  have  been  aware  of  the  deep  feeling  Avhicli 
the  tidings  of  this  aAvful  ci'imc  awakened  among  all  classes  of  our 
fellow-countrymen.  Our  chief  object,  hoAvever,  in  noAv  addressing 
you,  is  to  express  the  heartfelt  joy  and  gratitude  Avith  Avhich  Ave 
have  received  the  tidings  of  the  war  having  in  a  great  measure 
ceased,  and  of  the  anticipated  termination  of  slavery  throughout 
your  land.  Events  so  rich  tn  ])i'esent  blessin;,s,  and  so  fraught  with 
"hope  for  the  enslaved  throughout  the  Avhole  world,  call  for  our  de- 


1865  JOUUXAL    OF    THOMAS    ARNE'JT.  4U13 

Yout  thanksgiving  to  liim  who  ctuises  even  the   wrutli  of  man  to 
praise  him. 

With  chastened  and  humble  thankfulness  we  would  congratulate 
you  and  ourselves,  that  for  so  many  years  the  members  of  our  re- 
ligious society  have  been  free  from  all  participation  in  slave-trading 
and  slave-holding.  The  testimony  against  slavery,  as  a  sin  against 
Ood,  and  a  crime  against  our  fellow-men,  is  a  precious  inheritance 
received  from  our  jiredecessors  ;  a  testimony  borne  by  them  in  your 
land,  at  the  cost  of  much  pecuniary  and  otlier  sacrifice.  It  has  been 
vour  ])rivi!ege  and  ours  to  enter  into  their  labors. 

Although  the  abolition  of  the  slave  trade  and  slavery  has  long 
been  a  cherished  object  with  our  beloved  country,  yet  we  do  not 
forget  that  it  was  Great  Britain  that  planted  slavery  in  your  States, 
and  that  a  large  proportion  of  your  colored  population  descended 
from  African  slaves  carried  thither  under  the  British  flag.  Our  na- 
tion has  largely  shared  in  the  sin  of  American  slavery,  as  it  has 
also,  to  some  extent,  ])artaken  in  the  suffering  caused  by  the  war. 

AVhile  we  entertain  the  hope  that  peace  is  virtually  secured,  and 
that  slavery  in  the  United  States  is  about  to  disappear  utterly  and 
forever,  we  feel  that  there  is  much  more  to  be  done  than  to  join  with 
you  in  the  song  of  rejoicing. 

Heartily  have  we  sympathized  with  you,  and  with  very  many  of 
vonr  fellow-Christians,  in  your  efforts  for  the  succor  of  the  perish- 
ing fugitives  from  slavery  while  the  war  was  in  progress.  These 
endeavors  to  clothe  the  naked,  to  relieve  the  sick,  the  aged,  and  the 
helpless,  and  to  im]iart  religious  instruction  to  the  liberated  negroes 
have  been  greatly  blessed.  "A  still  wider  field  of  Christian  benevo- 
lence, and  one  in  which  we  trust  that  we  and  our  fellow-countrymen 
may  be  privileged  to  share,  opens  before  you  and  others  like 
minded,  in  seeking  to  lead  millions  of  emancipated  human  beings  out 
of  the  darkness  and  degradation  of  slavery,  to  qualify  them  for  the 
true  appreciation  and  enjoyment  of  civil  and  religious  freedom,  and 
■effectually  to  secure  for  them  the  permanence  of  these  blessings. 
Every  benefit  conferred,  every  step  gained  in  this  onward  and  upward 
progress,  will  not  only  be  a  p'ersonal  blessing  to  our  colored  brethren 
in  your  land,  but  will  advance  the  cause  of  the  oppressed  and  injured 
negro  in  every  (piarter  of  the  world,  not  excepting  his  own  benighted 
Africa. 

We  rejoice  to  hear  of  the  extent  to  which,  in  this  day  of  trial. 
Friends  have  remained  faithful  in  maintaining  the  testimony  of  our 
religions  society  against  war.  Both  war  and  slavery  are  opi)Osed  to 
the  spirit  and  precepts  of  the  gospel  of  Christ;  and  in  speaking  of  the 
manner  in  which  one  of  these  evils  has  been  instrumental  in  over- 
throwing the  other,  we  do  but  recognize  the  power  of  the  Most 
High  to  bring  good  out  of  evil,  which  is  so  often  exemplified  in  his 
moral  government  of  the  world.  We  affectionately  desire  that  grace 
and  wisdom  mav  be  given  you  to  em]iloy  your  Christian  influence 


410  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AUN'ETT.  1SG.> 

for  the  healing  of  the  many  wounds  caused  by  this  bitter  strife,  and 
for  the  promotion  of  love  and  good-will  among  all  classes  of  your 
countrymen  ;  and  do  no  less  desire  that  both  you  and  we  may  be 
engaged  in  prayerful  dependence  on  the  divi7ie  blessing  in  seeking 
to  spread  in  our  respective  countries  those  sentiments  of  mutual 
charity  and  good-will  which  furnish  the  best  security  for  the  con- 
tinuance of  international  peace. 

Signed  in  and  on  behalf  of  the  meeting, 

Joseph  Crosfield,  Clerk. 

It  is  a  matter  that  ought  to  induce  people  to  be  loyal  to  the  gov- 
ernment under  which  they  live,  consistent  with  the  truth,  in  con- 
sideration of  the  great  contrast  betweeii  the  lo3'al  and  rebel  States 
during  this  civil  war ;  for  while  many  blessings  were  jioured  down 
upon  the  loyal  States,  the  rebel  States,  in  many  instances,  were 
brought  to  participate  in  the  most  extreme  sufferings  in  various 
ways  and  forms,  so  tliat  many  of  the  people  thereof  were  starved 
to  death  for  the  want  of  the  sustenance  of  life.  Such  was  the 
awful  consequence  of  this  rebellion. 

In  the  Autumn  of  this  year,  1685,  my  dear  wife,  with  the  a])pro- 
bation  and  unity  of  Friends  of  our  Monthly  and  Quarterly  Meet- 
ings, attended,  in  the  love  of  the  gospel,  the  service  of  Ohio  Yearly 
Meeting  of  Friends,  and  also  visited  most  of  the  meetings  thereof. 
During  this  weighty  dedication  she  was  favored  with  good  health, 
and  enabled  to  jjreach  the  gospel  in  the  demonstration  of  the  spirit 
and  with  power,  to  the  comfort  and  edification  of  Friends  and 
others.  She  was  out  engaged  in  the  prosecution  of  this  concern 
upward  of  three  weeks,  and  traveled  about  fifteen  hundred  miles, 
under  the  kind  sympathy  and  care  of  Friends  where  her  lot  was 
cast;  and  after  performing  this  service,  consistent  with  divine  will, 
she  returned  home  with  sweet  peace  of  mind  and  to  our  mutual 
joy  and  thankfulness  to  the  Great  Head  of  the  Church. 

The  18th  day  of  the  Twelfth  mo.  in  this  year,  1865,  was  a  very 
important  and  deeply  interesting  time  to  the  people  of  this  country, 
in  consideration  of  the  final  overthrow  of  shivery  in  the  United 
States  and  freedom  proclaimed  throughout  our  afflicted  land.  On 
this  day  the  Secretary  of  State  of  the  United  States  issued  his 
proclamation  on  behalf  of  this  Government,  declaring  that,  Avhereas 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States  having  passed  an  act  for  the 
amendment  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  whicli, 
when  ratified  by  three-fourths  of  the  State  Legislatures  of  this 
Government,  shall  be  valid  to  all  intents  and  purposes  as  a  part  of 
said  constitution.  This  amendment  was  for  the  entire  abolition  of 
slavery  throughout  this  great  republic.  Therefore,  whereas  three- 
fourths  of  the  State  Legislatures  of  this  Government  having  rati- 
fied the  proposed  amendment,  therefore  be  it  known  by  the  Secre- 
tary of  State  of  the  United  States  that  the  ameiulment  aforesaid 
has  become  valid  to  all  intents  and  purposes  as   i)art  of  the  Consti- 


1806  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  411 

tntion  of  the  United  States.  Therefore  slavery  is  forever  abolished 
in  our  beloved  country,  to  the  joy  and  thankfulness  of  many  in  our 
afflicted  land. 

I  thank  thee,  0  Lord,  everlasting  God,  for  ])ermitting  me,  thy 
very  poor  and  unAvorthy  servant,  through  thine  adorable  mercy,  to 
live  in  this  world  to  witness  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  this  coun- 
try, and  a  standard  of  freedom  raised  under  this  Government, 
wherein  all  shall  have  equal  rights  and  liberty. 

Thy  warning  for  many  years,  in  the  love  of  thy  glorious  and  ever- 
lasting gospel,  went  forth  to  the  slave-holders,  pleading  with  them 
to  let  the  oppressed  go  free,  and  to  repent  of  tiicir  sin  and  trans- 
gression, so  as  to  obtain  thy  mercy  and  witness  pardon  for  tlieir 
many  evils  which  they  had  committed.  And  from  the  warning  of 
the  expostulation  of  thy  gos})el  they  tiirned  away  and  became  more 
and  more  determined  in  their  accumulated  iniquity  to  hold  on  to 
the  sin  of  slavery,  till  thy  very  awful  and  dreadful  judgments  were 
permitted  to  be  poured  down  upon  this  country  till  the  bond  of  op- 
pression was  broken  asunder  and  the  poor  trodden  down  slaves  per- 
mitted to  go  free,  and  to  enjoy,  in  a  good  degree,  the  rights  of 
man,  after  long  suifering. 

I  beseech  thee,  0  Father,  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth,  to  have 
mercy  upon  this  country,  and  to  remember,  in  thy  great  loving 
kindness,  all  the  sufferings  and  afflictions  of  the  sons  and  daughters 
of  Africa  throughout  this  great  Government,  and  more  and  more 
in  thy  love,  turn  the  benevolence  of  the  j^eople  toward  them,  so  as 
to  relieve  them  in  thy  mercy  from  their  sufferings  and  their  deep 
and  sore  afflictions.  And  I  pray  thee,  0  Heavenly  Father,  to  carry 
on  thy  great  work  of  universal  reformation  in  this  world,  consist- 
ent with  thy  will,  till  war,  slavery  and  intemperance  shall  be  abol- 
ished throughout  the  whole  world.     Amen  ! 

Through  the  course  of  this  year,  186G,  various  and  weighty  were 
the  exercises  and  concerns  that  came  upon  my  dear  wife  and  my- 
self ;  sometimes,  in  the  order  of  our  society,  holding  public  meet- 
ings together  for  Friends  and  others,  and  at  other  times  traveling 
separately  in  truth's  service,  to  the  peace  of  our  minds  and  to  the 
satisfaction  of  Friends  and  others  ;  and  on  one  occasion,  while  she 
was  out  engaged  in  the  jsrosecution  of  truth's  service,  I  visited 
most  of  the  families  of  West  Branch  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Friends, 
together  with  holding  some  public  meetings  for  those  not  of  our 
society.  The  whole  number  of  families  which  I  visited  on  this 
concern  amounted  to  about  one  hundred  and  fifty. 

In  the  prosecution  of  this  family  visit  I  was  very  often  reminded 
through  the  spirit  of  this  gracious  ancient  i)romise  of  God  to  Abra- 
ham— "In  thee  shall  all  families  of  the  earth  be  blessed,"  relating 
to  the  coming  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  the  flesh,  and  shedding 
his  precious  blood  on  the  cross  for  the  remission  of  sin.  In  conse- 
quence of  that  one  groat  offering  which  he  made  of  himself,  once 


412  JOUKNAL    OF   THOMAS    AKXETT.  im 

for  all,  through  the  eternal  spirit,  the  blessing  of  God  being  ex- 
tended to  all  tlie  families  of  the  earth  in  every  age  of  the  world. 

I  passed  through  this  whole  visit  to  the  peace  of  my  own  mind, 
and  I  believe  to  the  comfort  and  edification  of  those  whom  I  vis- 
ited. The  Lord,  through  the  spirit,  was  with  me,  and  granted  me 
strength  and  wisdom  to  labor,  to  the  peace  of  my  own  mind  and  to 
the  gh)ry  of  his  name. 

After  I  had  passed  through  this  dedication  consistent,  I  believe, 
with  the  divine  will,  I  returned  home  with  sweet  peace  of  mind, 
and  found  my  dear  wife  enjoying  good  health,  she  having,  prior  to 
this  time,  performed  her  visit  and  returned  home  with  true  peace 
of  mind,  having  the  evidence  that  this  dedication  had  received  the 
gracious  acceptance  of  the  blessed  Saviour,  and  that  it  was  to  the 
comfort  and  edification  of  Friends  and  others  among  whom  she 
labored  in  the  love  of  the  gospel. 

There  is,  according  to  the  Scriptures,  but  one  gospel  to  be 
preached  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth,  which  is  the  message  of 
peace  and  salvation  from  God  to  man,  through  Jesus  Christ,  who 
shed  his  blood  on  the  cross  for  the  remission  of  sin.  And  it  is  by 
faith  in  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  that  this  gosjiel  shall  reform  and 
evangelize  the  world,  whicii  is  to  be  preached  "unto  them  that 
dwell  on  the  earth,  and  to  every  nation,  and  kindred,  and  tongue, 
and  people,  according  to  this  testimony  and  command  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  which  he  delivered  in  his  language,  after  he  had 
tasted  death  for  every  man,  and  a  little  before  his  ascension  into 
heaven  :  "All  power  is  given  unto  me  in  heaven  and  in  earth.  Go, 
ye,  therefore,  and  teach  all  nations,  baptizing  them  in  the  name  of 
the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  teaching  them 
to  observe  all  things  whatsoever  I  have  commanded  you,  and  lo, 
I  am  with  you  always,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world.  Go  ye 
into  all  the  world  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature." 

This  command  should  be  received  in  faith,  as  addressed  to  all 
the  true  messengers  who  are  engaged  in  the  prosecution  of  the  mis- 
sion of  the  gospel;  this  command  has  been  and  will  be  carried  under 
the  grace  of  God,  through  the  instrumentality  of  the  great  mission- 
ary concern,  in  which  all  the  Christian  and  evangelical  churches 
shoukl  participate  in  the  promotion  of  this  great  and  good  work, 
and  also  in  the  necessary  support  of  those  who  are  called  upon  by 
the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  to  go  forth  to  "preach  the  gospel  of 
peace  and  bring  tidings  of  good  things." 

The  gospel  of  "Jesus  Christ,  according  to  the  revelation  of  the 
mystery  which  was  kept  secret  since  the  world  l>egan,  but  now  is 
made  manifest,  and  by  the  scrijitures  of  the  ])rophets,  according  to 
the  commandment  of  the  everlasting  God,  made  known  to  all  na- 
tions for  the  obedience  of  faith  :  wherefore,  according  to  this  scrip- 
ture testimony  it  is  the  duty  of  all  the  faithful  laborers  in  Christ 
to  be  "  workers  together  with  him  "  for  the  spread  of  the  glad  tid- 


1866  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKNETT,  415 

ings  of  this  gospel  among  the  nations  of  the  earth  for  the  obedience 
of  faith  in  him  "  who  was  delivered  for  our  offences  and  was  raised 
again  for  our  justification." 

The  ministry  of  the  gospel  as  it  is  developed  in  the  holy  scrip- 
tures and  recognized  in  our  religious  society  is  so  unshackled,  such 
liberty  is  given  for  the  exercise  of  the  gift  bestowed,  so  extensive 
the  field  that  lies  open  to  the  gospel  laborer,  both  within  and  with- 
out the  pale  of  our  religious  society,  and  so  varied  the  exercises  to 
whicli  such  may  be  called,  that  it  is  very  important  all  the  means 
tiiat  can  be  employed  for  the  help  and  instruction  of  these  should 
be  brought  into  exercise. 

Many  young  ministers,  I  believe,  suffer  great  loss  for  want  of 
timely  counsel  and  care.  This  is  surely  a  subject  of  vast  importiince 
to  the  well-being  of  our  religious  society,  seeing  however  excellent 
the  gift,  or  evident  the  anointing,  human  insti-uments  are  weak  and 
fallible,  having  "  this  treasure  in  earthen  vessels"  and  always  liable 
to  receive  a  bias  from  a  variety  of  causes  and  circumstances. 

The  constitution  of  our  Society  in  this  matter  appears  to  me  to 
be  excellent ;  let  it  be  acted  U])on  and  carried  out  with  faithfulness, 
in  simplicity  and  godly  sincerity,  and  then  I  believe  fruit  will  be 
found  to  the  praise  and  glory  of  him  who  is  the  head  over  all  things 
to  his  church.  It  does  not  indicate  the  quiet  and  meek  spirit  of 
the  gospel  for  ministers  to  set  their  own  feelings  above  the  care  of 
friends  or  the  judgment  of  the  church.  These  should  remember 
that  the  various  members  of  the  body  have  not  all  tlie  same  office;, 
but  that  the  Lord  hath  tempered  them  together  as  it  hath  pleased  him, 
so  that  the  "eye  cannot  say  unto  the  hand,  I  have  no  need  of  thee, 
nor  again  the  head  to  the  feet,  I  have  no  need  of  you."  They  are 
for  the  help  and  comfort  one  of  another  that  the  functions  of  the 
whole  may  be  healthfully  iierformed  ;  and  while  we  should  not  in 
any  degree  diminish  the  imjiortance  of  ministers,  looking  with  a 
single  eye  to  their  heavenly  leader  and  guide,  remembering  the 
declaration  of  our  blessed  Lord,  "  One  is  your  master,  even  Christ, 
and  all  ye  are  brethren;  "  they  should  bear  in  mind  that  while  to  one 
is  committed  the  gift  of  prophecy  or  preaching,  to  another  is  given 
the  "  word  of  exhortation,"  and  that  it  is  the  Lord's  will  that  his 
people  should  be  subject  one  to  another,  that  all  may  learn  and  all 
be  comforted. 

I  believe  that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  minister  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
to  read  and  to  meditate,  under  divine  grace,  so  as  to  be  well  ac- 
quainted with  the  holy  scriptures  and  to  seek  Avisdom  and  instruction 
from  him  who  inspired  them  and  gave  them  fortii,  so  as  to  be  able 
through  the  leading  and  teaching  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  make  a  right 
application  of  them.  The  great  Apostle,  in  relution  to  this  subject, 
delivered  this  testimony,  which  should  be  received  as  addressed  to 
every  true  minister  of  the  gospel,  "Give  attendance  to  reading,  to 
exhortation,  to  doctrine,  neglect  not  the  gift  that  is  in  thee,  niedi- 


414  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    AIINETT.  186G 

tate  upon  these  things,  give  thyself  wliolly  to  them,  tliat  thy  profit- 
ing may  appear  to  alL"  "  Study  to  show  thyself  approved  unto  God, 
a  workman  that  needeth  not  to  be  ashamed,  rightly  dividing  the 
■word  of  truth." 

It  is  also  the  duty  of  a  minister  of  the  gospel  to  be  an  example  of- 
the  believers,  in  word,  in  conversatioij,  in  charity,  in  purity,  and  in 
all  becoming  Christian  forbearance  and  long-sntferiug. 

We  see,  according  to  the  testimony  of  this  great  apostle,  that  it  is 
the  duty  of  the  ministers  of  the  gospel  not  only  to  live  a  holy  and 
sanctified  life,  but  also  to  study  sosas  to  improve  and  to  store  their 
minds  with  such  knowledge  as  will  enable  them,  under  divine  grace, 
to  defend  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel  and  to  illustrate  the  sacred 
writings. 

And  above  all  things,  in  minstering  the  word  of  life  and  salva- 
tion it  is  their  very  indispensable  duty  to  move  therein  according 
to  this  apostolic  direction:  "If  any  man  speak,  let  him  speak  as 
the  oracles  of  God  :  if  any  man  minister,  let  him  do  it  as  of  the 
ability  which  God  giveth,  that  God  in  all  things  may  be  glorified 
through  Jesus  Christ,  to  whom  be  praise  and  dominion  forever  and 
ever." 

It  is  very  important  in  the  prosecution  of  the  great  Avork  of  the 
ministry  of  the  gospel,  that  "  as  every  man  hath  received  the  gift, 
e\en  so  minister  the  same  one  to  another  as  good  stewards  of  the 
manifold  grace  of  God." 

'This  precious  gift  is  not  of  man,  but  it  is  of  God,  according  to 
this  apostolic  testimony,  "I  certify  you,  brethren,  that  the  gospel 
which  was  preached  of  me  is  not  alter  man  :  for  I  neither  received 
of  man,  neither  was  I  taught  it,  but  by  the  revelation  of  Jesus 
Christ."  This  gospel  "  is  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation  to  every 
one  that  believeth."  And  if  all  who  are  engaged  in  this  very  im- 
portant and  interesting  work  would  be  careful  to  wait  in  the  name 
of  the  Lord  till  they  should  be  endued  with  power  from  on  high, 
and  in  all  their  services  in  the  gospel  to  move  "as  of  the  ability 
which  God  giveth,"  then  I  believe  that  Christianity  would  branch 
out  in  the  world  "  upon  every  high  mountain  and  upon  every  high 
hill,"  as  rivers  and  streams  of  waters,  to  the  converting  and  saving 
many  precious  souls. 

Ministers  of  the  gospel,  in  the  exercise  of  their  gifts,  when  they 
feel  called  u})on  to  open  and  illustrate  the  doctrines  of  the  Christian 
religion,  should  ever  be  careful  to  elucidate  subjects  of  this  nature 
according  to  the  scriptures,  neither  misquoting  nor  misapplying 
tlu'm,  but  inculcating  "all  the  counsel  of  God,"  in  the  authority  of 
"the  everlasting  gospel  "as  therein  contained  and  develoi)ed. 

While  it  IS  the  duty  of  the  ministers  of  the  gospel  in  explaining 
the  great  doctrine  of  Christian  redemption,  such  as  the  sin  conse- 
quent upon  tile  fall  of  man  and  the  benefit  resulting  to  the  whole 
family  of  man  through  the  coming  of  the  dear  Son  of  God  in  the 


186(5  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  415 

tlt'sh,  that  ''Christ  also  liath  once  suffered  for  sins,  the  just  for  the 
unjust,  that  he  might  bring  us  to  God,  being  put  to  death  in  the 
flesh,  but  quickened  by  tlie  spirit ;"  together  with  all  other  points 
of  doctrine  relative  to  tlie  benefit  and  instruction  of  the  Ijelievers 
in  Christ  and  others.  It  is  also  their  duty,  under  the  right  anoint- 
ing, to  inculcate  in  "the  work  of  the  ministry,"  the  whole  truth, 
as  it  is  developed  in  the  sacred  volume,  in  elucidating  the  doctrine 
of  the  coming  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  to  "judge  the  world  in 
righteousness '"  in  the  great  and  general  day  of  judgment,  when 
all  that  are  in  the  graves  shall  hear  his  voice  and  shall  come  forth, 
they  that  have  done  good,  unto  the  resurrection  of  life  ;  and  they 
that  have  done  evil,  unto  the  resurrection  of  damnation. 

In  opening  and  illustrating  the  great  doctrine  of  Christian  re- 
demption, the  mystery  thereof,  however,  should  ever  be  left  where 
the  Scriptures  leave  it,  knowing  that  "  the  secret  things  belong 
unto  the  Lord  our  Clod;  but  those  things  which  are  revealed  belong 
unto  us,  and  to  our  children  forever,  that  we  may  do  all  the  words 
of  this  law." 

The  institution  of  elders  in  the  church  of  God,  as  recognized  in 
the  sacred  volume,  and  acknowledged  in  our  religious  society,  such 
as  have  "  passed  from  death  unto  life,"  "  being  justified  by  faith," 
and  "sanctified  in  Christ  Jesus,"  ruling  well  their  own  houses 
"  with  all  gravity,"  having  a  right  understanding  of  faitli  and  doc- 
trine, according  to  the  Scri|)tures,  and  having  been  anointed  under 
the  influence  of  the  Holy  Ghost  to  be  laborers  among  the  i)eople  of 
God,  is  surely  one  of  the  greatest  blessings  bestowed  upon  the 
household  of  God;  and  the  duty  resting  ujion  those  of  this  de- 
scription is  inculcated  in  this  apostolic  testimony,  "Take  heed 
therefore  unto  yourselves,  and  to  all  the  flock  over  the  which  the 
Holy  Ghost  hath  made  you  overseers,  to  feed  the  church  of  God, 
which  he  hath  purchased  with  his  own  blood,"  "taking  the  over- 
sight of"  the  heritage  of  God,  being  oxain2)les  to  the  flock. 

We  see,  according  to  this  testimony,  that  elders  should  be  very 
watchful  over  themselves,  and  also  over  the  flock  among  whom  they 
reside,  laboring  therein  with  all  gravity  for  the  encouragement  of 
the  faithful,  and  for  the  awakening  and  restoration  of  those  who 
live  in  the  neglect  of  tlieir  various  religious  duties. 

Ministers  and  elders,  being  united  in  the  unity  of  the  spirit,  in 
the  bond  of  peace,  may  be  mutually  helpful  to  each  other,  and  la- 
bor as  nursing  fathers  and  mothers  in  the  church,  teaching  and  in- 
structing those  who  are  young  in  the  ministry,  and  discouraging 
everything  that  is  unbecoming  a  work  of  sucli  vast  importance  to  the 
well-being  and  preservation  of  the  church. 

Ministers  and  elders  in  the  church  of  God,  being  "  perfectly 
joined  together  in  the  same  mind,  and  in  the  same  judgment,"  and 
being  also  "  rooted  and  grounded"  in  "  the  love  of  Christ  which 
passeth  knowledge,"    and  through  the  leading  and  teaching  of  the 


416  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AKNETT.  i8fcT 

Holy  Spirit  having  received  spiritual  gifts,  so  as  to  be  enabled,  un- 
der divine  grace,  to  open  and  to  illustrate  all  the  doctrines 
of  the  Christian  religion,  to  the  edification  and  comfort  of 
all  the  members  of  the  spiritual  house  of  God,  which,  being 
built  up  "as  lively  stones,"  "  a  holy  priesthood,  to  offer  up  spirit- 
ual sacrifices  acceptable  to  God,  by  Jesus  Christ." 

Those  of  this  description,  being  faithful  in  the  exercise  of  their 
gifts,  will  not  only  be  as  ])illars  in  the  "  church  of  the  living  God," 
but  will  also  labor  harmoniously  together  for  the  spread  of  the  glad 
tidings  of  the  gospel,  both  within  and  without  the  pale  of  the 
Christian  church;  and  it  is  their  duty,  together  with  all  the  mem- 
bers of  the  house  of  God,  "to  follow  after  charity,"  "and  desire 
spiritual  gift,"  so  as  to  "grow  in  grace  and  in  the  knowledge  of 
our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,"  "  praying  always  with  all 
prayer  and  supplication  in  the  spirit,  and  watching  thereunto  Avith 
all  perseverence  and  supplication  for  all  saints." 

It  is  the  duty  of  all  the  Christian  and  evangelical  churches,  in  the 
obedience  of  faith,  to  seek  under  divine  grace  to  be  enabled  to  par- 
ticipate in  and  to  carry  out,  as  way  may  open  in  the  wisdom  of  truth, 
this  testimony  and  injunction  of  Jesus  Christ:  "  The  harvest 
truly  is  great,  but  the  laborers  are  few.  Pray  ye  therefore  the  Lord 
of  the  harvest  that  he  would  send  forth  laborers  into  his  harvest." 

The  field  of  the  great  harvest  is  the  whole  world,  and  all  those 
of  every  description  who  go  forth  and  labor  in  this  fiekl,  consistent 
with  the  truth,  according  to  their  gifts,  for  the  purpose  of  gathering 
souls  to  him  "  whose  goings  forth  have  been  from  of  old,  from 
everlasting,"  God  will  bless  such  laborers  in  time  and  in  eternity; 
for,  according  to  the  scriptures,  "they  that  be  wise  shall  shine  as 
the  brightness  of  the  firmament,  and  they  that  turn  many  to  right- 
eousness as  the  stars  forever  and  ever." 

I,  together  with  my  dear  wile,  in  passing  through  the  course  of 
this  year,  1867,  participated  in  deep  and  weighty  exercises  in  the 
discharge  of  our  various  domestic,  relative  and  religious  duties,  to- 
gether with  much  affliction  both  of  body  and  mind. 

In  the  spring  thereof  my  health  had  been  for  some  time  poor, 
till  eventually  I  was  suddenly  seized  with  a  most  severe  chill,  which 
continued  for  some  hours,  and  terminated  with  a  severe  attack  of 
billions  fever,  which  confined  me  to  my  bed  and  room  for  about  the 
S])ace  of  two  weeks,  during  which  time  I  was  l)rought  low  in  body; 
but  under  this  deep  affliction,  my  mind  was  filled  with  the  love  of 
Christ,  and  perfect  sweetness  and  peace  pervaded  my  spirit.  While 
under  this  alUiction,  permitted  to  come  upon  me  for  some  wise  pur- 
pose, I  thought  much  about  the  situation  of  those  who  si)end  their 
time  in  vanity  and  wickedness,  knowing  according  to  the  scriptures 
the  awful  condition  of  such  when  brought  down  on  a  death-bed,  with- 
out sincere  repentance  toward  God  and  faith  toward  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.     While  health  and  opportunity  are  afforded,   people  ought 


1867  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS   ARNETT.  417 

to  return,  repent  and  seek,  under  divine  grace,  to  be  prepared  for  a 
happy  eternity,  when  death  places  them  out  of  time,  and  they  pass 
from  works  to  rewards,  no  more  to  be  seen  in  this  sinful  and  fallen 
world  as  they  now  are.  May  God  have  mercy  on  all  such,  while 
they  are  in  the  land  of  the  living. 

I  had  cause,  however,  eventually  to  thank  God  that  through  his 
mercy,  together  with  the  most  kind  nursing  and  Christian  care  of 
my  dear  and  loving  wife,  including  the  needful  medical  attention 
and  aid,  I,  in  process  of  time,  recovered  from  this  attack  of 
bodily  indisposition,  and  was  again  restored  to  my  usual  health.  I 
beseech  thee,  0  Lord,  everlasting  God,  to  sanctify  to  the  glory  of 
thy  cause,  and  to  my  benefit  and  purity,  this  sore  and  deep  afflic- 
tion. Praised  forever  be  thy  holy  and  ever  worthy  and  adorable 
name!     Amen! 

After  my  recovery  from  this  severe  attack  of  bodily  indisposition, 
my  dear  wife  and  myself,  being  under  a  religious  concern  to  visit, 
in  the  love  of  the  gospel,  the  meetings  and  families  constituting 
our  Quarterly  Meeting,  to  appoint  some  meetings  in  those  parts  for 
Friends  and  others,  and  also  to  appoint  a  few  similar  meetings  in 
some  other  parts  of  this  country,  including  the  city  of  Columbus. 

In  the  opening  of  the  wisdom  of  God,  we  eventually  entered 
upon  this  visit  with  the  unity  of  our  dear  Friends;  and  in  the 
prosecution  of  our  visit  to  the  meetings  and  families  of  Friends, 
under  this  weighty  concern,  we  were  enabled,  through  the  spirit,  to 
labor  to  the  satisfaction  and  edification  of  those  whom  we  visited, 
and  to  the  peace  of  our  own  minds,  desiring  that  God  in  all  our 
labors  may  be  glorified  through  us,  and  that  his  grace  may  be  more 
and  more  magnified  in  our  experience  ;  desiring  also  that  our  dear 
Friends  whom  we  visited  may  ever  live  so  nigh  God  in  the  spirit, 
and  so  near  one  to  another,  as  to  be  preserved  in  the  unity  of  the 
spirit,  in  the  bond  of  peace,  so  as  to  grow  in  grace,  and  in  the  knowl- 
edge of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ;  and  all  our  domestic, 
relative  and  religious  duties  were  impressively  and  earnestly  incul- 
cated, we  believe  to  very  good  effect.  The  aged  were  encouraged 
to  be  faithful  to  the  end,  so  as  to  be  accounted  worthy  to  receive 
the  crown  of  righteousness  promised  to  all  the  children  of  God  ; 
and  the  youth  were  exhorted  to  make  a  full  surrender  to  the  cross 
of  Christ,  so  as  to  enjoy  and  to  glorify  him  forevermore. 

Many  of  the  public  meetings  which  we  held  among  Friends  and 
others  under  this  concern  were  very  large  and  eminently  owned  by 
him  who  sent  us  forth  ;  and  in  tliem  the  gospel  was  preached  in  all 
its  fullness,  in  the  demonstration  of  the  spirit  and  with  power,  ac- 
cording to  the  scriptures  ;  so  that  the  name  of  God,  through  Jesus 
Christ,  the  holy  and  adorable  Mediator,  was  magnified  therein  to 
the  humility  and  edification  of  many  minds,  so  that  we  had  great 
cause  to  bless  God  and  to  take  fresh  courage  in  walking  with  him 
who  ''made  the  world  and  all  things  therein,  seeing  that  He  is 


418  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  1867 

Lord  of  heaven  and  earth,"  and  is  ''no  respecter  of  persons,  hut  in 
every  nation  he  that  fearetli  Him  and  worketh  righteousness  is  ac- 
cepted with  Him." 

Our  visit  to  the  city  of  Cohimbus,  under  tliis  concern,  was  of  a 
deeply  interesting  nature.  We  left  home  to  perform  this  part  of 
our  dedication  in  this  service  on  the  l.'Uh  day  of  the  9th  month, 
1801,  and  on  the  next  day  we  had  a  very  interesting  meeting  with 
the  inmates  of  the  State  Blind  Asylum,  where  we  met  about  one 
hundred  blind  children,  who  were  much  tendered  in  spirit  through 
the  ministry  of  the  gospel ;  and  on  the  loth,  being  the  First-day  of 
the  week,  we  visited  the  State  prison  ;  aiul  in  the  morning  we  had 
a  meeting  for  the  female  prisoners,  there  being  twenty-live  of  this 
description  in  attendance,  who  were,  under  the  reaching  power  of 
the  gospel,  broken  down  under  conviction  through  a  sense  of  their 
sin  and  transgression ;  and  after  passing  through  the  First-day 
scriptural  school  exercises  with  the  i)risoners,  we  attended  the  meet- 
ing of  the  male  prisoners,  which  commenced  at  11  o'clock,  and  held 
about  one  hour,  there  being  in  attendance  nine  hundred  and  ninety 
prisoners,  together  with  the  State  officers  of  the  prison  and  about 
two  hundred  citizens  of  the  city.  In  this  mixed  multitude  we 
were  much  favored  in  prayer  and  in  preaching  the  gospel  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in  the  demonstration  of  the  spirit  and  with 
power,  in  Avhich  salvation  was  offered  to  all  in  attendance  through 
repentance  toward  God  and  faith  toward  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
And  in  the  evening  we  held  a  large  and  very  interesting  public 
meeting  for  the  citizens  of  the  city,  in  a  Methodist  meeting-house, 
wherein  truth  reigned  over  all.  Many  were  humbled  as  in  dust  and 
ashes  and  in  thanksgiving  to  God  for  this  gracious  and  merciful 
visitation,  to  whom  all  the  praise  is  due.  After  this  we  returned 
home  with  sweet  peace  of  mind. 

There  are  no  writings  in  the  world  which  contain  history  so  im- 
portant, poetry  so  sublime,  delineation  and  biography  of  character 
so  instructive  and  interesting,  devotional  compositions  so  tender 
and  impressive,  and  lessons  so  wise  and  useful  as  the  holy  scriptures. 
No  ])eo})le  can  be  in  the  habit  of  reading  the  sacred  volume  with 
attention  and  in  a  humble,  devotional  spirit  without  finding  them- 
selves instructed  in  the  knowledge  of  tbe  doctrine  of  Christianity. 

The  scriptures  are  so  full  of  instructions — the  mine  is  so  deep 
and  richly  stored — that  the  treasure  is  never  exhausted.  We  may 
read  the  same  passage  thereof  a  thousand  times,  and  then  return 
to  it  again  in  a  right  spirit,  and  be  renewedly  edified  and  com- 
forted. 

In  consideration  of  the  very  immense  value  and  benefit  of  the 
scriptures  to  the  inluibitants  of  the  whole  world,  how  very  im- 
portant it  is  that  all  the  Christian  and  evangelical  (iliurches  under 
the  i)rovidence  and  grace  of  God  should  be  engaged  in  the  partici- 
pation of  tbe  general  circulation  of  the  sacred  volume,  in  connec- 


1867  JOirR>rAL    OF    THOxMAS    AKNTETT.  4111 

tion  with  the  great  missionary  concern  for  the  spread  of  the  gospel 
throughout  the  wliole  liabitable  world. 

I  am  thankful,  however,  in  believing  that  this  great  and  good 
work,  under  the  benevolence  of  the  Christian  religion,  has  been 
already  commenced,  and  is  still  going  on,  consistent  with  the  truth, 
through  the  instrumentality  of  the  various  Bible  societies,  whose 
object  it  is  to  print  and  circulate  the  scriptures  through  all  the 
habitable  world  and  in  all  the  languages  spoken  on  the  face  of  the 
earth  ;  and  I  believe  that  this  great  and  good  work  will  still  go  on 
under  divine  grace,  "till  the  earth  shall  be  filled  with  the  know- 
ledge of  the  glory  of  the  Lord,  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea  ; "  for  the 
Lord  will  carry  on  his  work  of  general  reformation  in  the  world 
till  his  will  shall  be  done  on  the  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven. 

I  believe,  that  in  connection  with  the  concern  of  the  dissemina- 
tion of  the  truths  of  the  gospel  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  world, 
through  the  instrumentality  of  the  believers  in  the  various  evan- 
gelical churches,  has  been  the  institution  and  sustenance,  under 
the  grace  of  God,  of  First-day  scriptural  schools  for  the  study  of 
the  scrijDtures,  which  are  able  to  make  wise  unto  salvation  and 
righteousness  through  faith  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus. 

I  believe  that  the  origin  of  these  Christian  Sabbath  schools  was 
in  the  wisdom  of  him  who  is  the  author  and  finisher  of  the  saint's 
faith  ;  and  as  they  are  conducted  and  carried  on  in  a  right  spirit, 
under  the  supervision  of  the  various  Christian  evangelical  churches, 
consistent  with  the  providence  and  grace  of  God,  they  will,  I  am 
persuaded,  be  instrumental  of  one  of  the  greatest  blessing  through 
the  light  of  the  gospel  in  converting  and  gathering  many  sons  and 
daughters  worthy  to  be  adopted  as  members  in  the  great  family  of 
God. 

The  Bible  has  God  for  its  author,  truth  for  its  essence  and  salva- 
tion, under  the  divine  grace,  for  its  object ;  and  as  the  sacred 
volume  is  read  and  studied  in  a  right  spirit  in  these  schools,  with 
prayer  and  supplication,  the  truths  thereof  through  the  light  of  the 
gospel  will  often  be  opened  and  illustrated  to  the  edification  and 
comfort  of  many.  I  beseech,  thee,  0  Lord,  everlasting  God,  abund- 
antly to  continue  thy  mercy,  preservation  and  protection  toward 
me,  thy  very  poor  and  unworthy  servant ;  open  and  illuminate  my 
understanding  more  and  more,  so  as  I  may  yet  be  enabled  to  work 
for  thee  consistent  with  thy  holy  will.  Bless,  I  pray  thee,  all  my 
labors  in  the  gospel,  for  all  this  work  has  been  thine  and  not  mine, 
for  I  am  only  the  instrument  thereof ;  and  now  in  faith  I  dedicate 
all  my  works  performed  in  thy  name  to  thee,  and  to  thy  gracious 
ordering,  and  in  all  things  concerning  me,  together  with  my  dedica- 
tion to  thee  and  to  thy  cause,  thy  will,  and  not  mine  be  done. 
Amen. 

We  have  need  to  praise  the  Father  of  Spirits,  for  he  has  ever  fed 
us  with  good  things.     Though  our  trials  be  deep,  yet  if  we  trust  in 


420  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS   AftNETT.  1867 

him,  he  will  sanctify  them  and  turn  them  to  our  good.  Though 
mountains  may  seem  to  obstruct  our  ^^atli,  his  power  can  remove 
them  from  our  sight  and  make  good  pastures  for  us  where  they 
were.  If  the  elements  seem  to  make  war  against  us,  he  can  rend 
the  heavens  and  come  down  and  govern  them.  He  guides  the 
meek  in  judgment,  and  a  broken  and  contrite  heart  he  will  never 
despise.  When  he  seems  to  leave  ns  and  permits  the  tempter  to 
buffet  us,  a  fear  is  apt  to  i^ervade  at  times  that  he  is  gone  forever, 
that  we  shall  no  more  see  good.  But  when  he  returns  with  heal- 
ing in  his  wings,  we  feel  that  all  is  well.  I  have  often  times  felt 
poor,  but  he  remembered  me  in  those  days  and  manifested  his 
strength  and  brought  to  my  remembrance  his  gracious  dealings  to 
his  saints  in  former  ages.  We  have  it  stated  in  sacred  history  that 
three  of  his  saints  were  once  cast  into  a  burning,  fiery  furnace,  and 
his  power  was  with  them  and  prevented  them  from  receiving  any 
hurt.  The  history  of  the  apostles  also  states  that  John  the  evan- 
gelist "  was  put  into  a  cauldron  of  boiling  oil,"  and  the  Divine  Provi- 
dence delivered  him  from  receiving  any  injury.  Many  other  similar 
instances  might  be  adverted  to,  but  these  are  deemed  sufficient. 
How  confirming  are  these  things  of  his  gracious  providence  and 
power  !  Where  will  the  atheist  find  himself  under  the  considera- 
tion of  these  truths  ?  Perhajas  he  will  deny  the  authority  of  them  ; 
but  he  may  with  the  same  propriety  deny  the  authenticity  of  all 
history,  which  he  will  not,  I  hope,  have  the  assurance  to  do.  And 
no  history  extant  is  better  founded  than  the  Scriptures  of  truth,  for 
both  ancient  and  modern  historians  authenticate  them,  and  truth 
fulfils  the  prophecies  which  are  stated  in  them. 

There  are  many  in  the  world  who  presume  to  deny  the  divinity  of 
Jesus  Christ,  but  they  have  no  authority  to  entertain  such  a 
thought,  for  his  divinity  has  been  sufficiently  shown  by  many  infal- 
lible proofs.  He  was  with  the  Father  from  the  beginning,  and  by 
him  he  created  all  that  was  made,  "  who  being  the  brightness  of  his 
glory  and  the  express  image  of  his  person,  and  upholding  all  things 
by  the  word  of  his  power,  Avhen  he  had  by  himself  purged  our  sins, 
sat  down  on  the  right  hand  of  the  Majesty  on  High,''  and  to  him 
every  knee  shall  bow  and  every  tongue  confess.  He  wrought  many 
wonderful  miracles  when  he  was  visibly  in  the  world  ;  and  he  works 
wonders  in  the  heavens  and  in  the  earth  even  in  these  days,  though 
not  so  conspicuous  to  the  eye  of  the  natural  man  as  those  were 
which  he  did  when  he  was  personally  on  the  earth  ;  but  the  spiritual 
eye  sees  his  wonders  in  the  heavens  and  in  the  earth,  in  the  seas  and 
in  tiie  fountains  of  waters.  His  saints  see  his  wonders  continually. 
For  the  sun  that  rolls  over  our  heads,  the  moon  that  gives  light  by 
night,  those  luminous  bodies  whicli  bespangle  the  heavens  in  a  dark 
night,  the  vicissitudes  of  the  seasons — in  fine,  the  structures  of  cre- 
ation are  all  conspicuous  wonders  and  should  be  sufficient  to  con- 
vince the  most  tenacious  deist  in  the  world.     Some  of  the  most 


isfiT  JOURNAL    OF   THOMAS    ARNETT.  431 

celebrated  infidels  were  brought  to  acknowledge  his  divinity  in  the 
hours  of  their  dissolution.  They  saw  the  error  of  their  belief  and 
wished  for  time  to  amend  tlieir  ways ;  a  guilty  conscience  smote 
them  ;  they  retrospected  their  i)ast  conduct  with  regret,  because 
tliey  had  employed  tlieir  nol)le  faculties  in  endeavoring  to  confute 
the  truths  of  the  Christion  religion  and  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel. 

I  desire  those  who  have  time  afforded  them  for  repentance  will 
improve  it  betimes  and  acknowledge  the  divinity  of  Christ,  propa- 
gating the  truths  and  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  avoiding  the  lo 
here's  or  the  lo  there's,  but  giving  heed  to  the  principle  of  light  and 
life  in  them  which  will  lead  them  out  of  all  error  into  all  truth,  if 
they  mind  its  monitions. 

I  will  trust  in  the  Lord  of  all  my  sure  comforts,  for  his  spirit 
penetrates  my  heart ;  it  has  often  chained  down  the  evil  in  me  and 
reached  the  good  seed  in  my  heart  and  watered  it  with  the  waters 
of  everlasting  life. 

I  will  praise  him  and  endeavor  to  teach  transgressors  his  law  and 
show  to  sinners  that  he  willeth  not  their  death,  for  he  wishes  all  to 
live  with  him  in  paradise  forever. 

I  impart  these  things  to  thee  with  a  wish  that  thou  mnyst  attain 
such  a  degree  of  purity  that  nothing  can  hurt  thee,  for  those  saints 
which  sacred  history  speaks  of  and  states  that  the  terrors  of  death 
did  not  move  them,"^  and  that  all  the  artifice  of  man  could  not  hurt 
them,  had  passed  from  death  to  life,  and  had  attained  a  very  high 
degree  of  perfection,  and  if  thou  attain  it  nothing  can  hurt  thee. 

When  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  Prince  of  Peace,  "who  is  over 
all,  God  blessed  forever,"  was  about  to  withdraw  his  visible  appear- 
ance from  this  world  what  was  the  legacy  he  bequeathed  to  his  deso- 
late and  afflicted  believers  and  followers  ?  Was  it  power  to  exalt 
them  above  their  enemies  ?  Was  it  Avealth  to  supply  them  with 
worldly  gratifications  ?  "Was  it  even  sagacity  or  knowledge  with  all 
their  attendant  blessings  ?  "  Peace  I  leave  with  you  ;  my  peace  I 
give  unto  you  ;  not  as  the  world  giveth  give  I  unto  you."  This  is 
the  secret  treasure  of  the  Christian  life  ;  this  is  the  peculiar  blessing 
of  spiritual  mindedness. 

The  world  is  full  of  vehement  desires  and  eager  competitions  ; 
the  faculties  of  the  mind  driven  forward  by  its  passions  and  provid- 
ing for  their  gratifications  and  vain  pleasures.  In  the  progress  of 
earthly  prosperity  we  are  continually  advancing  from  comparative 
stillness  and  tranquility  into  a  busy  and  tempestuous  region.  As 
riches  increase  and  honors  multiply  our  projects  become  more  ex- 
tensive, our  enemies  more  numerous,  our  contests  more  severe,  our 
anxieties  ceaseless  and  consuming  ;  and  often  in  the  more  pul)lic 
and  exalted  scenes  of  life,  the  storm  still  grows  more  tempestuous, 
even  to  the  day  when  the  hand  of  death  arrests  us  and  we  sink  and 
pass  away  with  "  shame  and  everlasting  contempt." 

Far  different  is  the  path  of  the  Christian,  which  '*  is  as  the  shining 


422  JOURNAL   OF   THOMAS    AHNETT.  isfiT 

light  that  shinetli  more  and  more  unto  the  perfect  day."  Dark- 
ened, perhaps,  at  first  with  clouds  of  perplexity  and  temptation,  the 
pilgrim  looks  around  with  a  trembling  anxiety  and  treads  even  the 
wav  of  salvation  with  some  heaviness  ;  but  the  light  which  shone 
faintly  and  fitfully  for  a  time  becomes  clear  and  steady.  As  he  as- 
cends" onward  and  upward  towards  the  celestial  paradise,  leaving 
behind  him  tlie  various  troubles,  temptations  and  darkness,  together 
with  all  the  trials  and  tumults  of  this  lower  Avorld,  his  prospect  is 
still  growing  more  extensive  and  delightful,  the  region  more  tran- 
quil and  peaceful,  and  finally,  when  he  shall  receive  this  welcome 
message  from  the  Prince  of  Peace,  "Well  done,  thou  good  and 
faithful  servant;"  ''enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord," — into 
the  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens  ;  and  God 
shall  wipe  away  all  tears  from  his  eyes  and  give  him  a  crown  of 
righteousness  and  adopt  him  into  the  great  city  of  glory  and  happi- 
ness, to  join  the  holy  angels  and  the  saints  in  light  to  praise  and 
adore  his  great  and  wonderful  name  forever  and  ever. 

God  is  wonderful  in  all  his  ways.  He  directs  the  planets  in  their 
courses  and  preserves  perfect  harmony  among  them  through  all 
time.  If  the  same  order  were  instituted  and  preserved  among  the 
children  of  men  as  is  among  them,  then  the  nations  of  the  earth 
would  liarmonize  and  leai'n  war  no  more  one  with  another,  and  the 
church  militant  would  triumph  and  reign  in  the  earth,  and  sons 
and  daughters  would  be  gathered  from  far,  and  in  the  sweetness  of 
divine  love  they  would  unite  in  praising  God  in  his  entire  being,  as 
Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost,  one  eternal  Almighty  God,  "and  the 
bright  and  morning  star"  would  arise  upon  them  and  guide  them 
to  the  house  of  divine  knowledge,  where  they  would  receive  comfort 
and  instruction,  and  be  enabled  to  labor  in  the  wisdom  of  God,  in 
gathering  souls  to  him;  knowing  that  "  they  that  be  wise  shall 
shine  as  the  brightness  of  the  firmanent,  and  they  that  turn  many 
to  righteousness  as  the  stars  forever  and  ever." 


"?  - "  •  -t 


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X-**^i: 


■"■'X'vC' 


■nsy^ 


